Education for global citizenship in a divided society? Young people's views and experiences

Abstract

Global citizenship education has been suggested as a means of overcoming the limitations of national citizenship in an increasingly globalised world. In divided societies, global citizenship education is especially relevant and problematic as it offers the opportunity to explore identities and conflict in a wider context. This paper therefore explores young people's understandings of global citizenship in Northern Ireland, a divided society emerging from conflict. Results from focus groups with primary and post-primary pupils reflect some theoretical conceptualisations of global citizenship, including an awareness of global issues, understandings of environmental interdependence and global responsibility, though other elements appear to be less well understood. We argue that global citizenship education will fail to overcome engrained cultural divisions locally and may perpetuate cultural stereotypes globally, unless local and global controversial issues are acknowledged and issues of identity and interdependence critically examined at both levels.

Acknowledgements

The research has been made possible through funding by the Department for International Development and Global Dimension in Schools (NI). We would also like to thank Nora McQuaid and Stephen McCloskey for their continuing support and advice, as well as all the teachers and pupils who participated in the research.

Notes

There is also a small number of voluntary and independent schools which receive partial or no funding. Source: http://www.deni.gov.uk/index/85-schools/10-types_of_school-nischools_pg.htm.

The Battle of the Boyne in 1690 has been celebrated ever since by some Protestants as a victory over Catholics.