Education for sustainable development, participation and socio‐cultural change

Abstract

This paper argues for a historical and socio‐cultural approach to participation as a key concept in a democratically oriented education for sustainable development (ESD). With three empirical examples from a non‐formal educational setting, it demonstrates that even though a relatively open framework is provided for genuine participation, certain themes and problems can be marginalised in the dominant discourse of sustainable development. Since the 1990s, this discourse has been characterised as ‘ecological modernisation’ in northern Europe. I show that there is a risk that, rather than enlightening sustainable development, participatory ESD will contribute to a self‐deceptive simulation. In order to go beyond this and contribute to the development of ESD, I argue by way of conclusion for a weighting of work with dilemmas, dissensus and deliberative communication.

Keywords:

• ESD
• participation
• discursive change
• ecological modernisation

Notes

1. As made evident in the article by Breiting and Wickenberg, there is no marked difference in the approach to environmental education and ESD in Sweden and Denmark, which relates in part to the social and participatory approach to environmental education and, in part, to a focus on environment within ESD. Nevertheless, both concepts are used in this article – in part, because the perspective is historical and, historically, ESD grew out of environmental education and in part because ESD, despite this kinship, entails a broad focus on society, its dynamic interplay of factors and the long‐term global consequences of contemporary practice.

2. See also, for example, the survey among Swedish teachers mentioned by Rudsberg and Öhman in this special issue.

3. See the articles by Breiting and Wickenberg, and Mogensen and Schnack in this special issue for a more detailed treatment of these approaches.

4. For other contributions to a historical conceptualisation of ESD, cf. Jickling and Wals (2007) and Sumner (2008).

5. The case is indeed unique, but the conclusion on citizen participation in public planning projects is supported by other studies (Jamison 1998; Fischer 2000).

6. Translated by Læss⊘e and Carlsson (2006).

7. For a more comprehensive outline of Blühdorn's thoughts see Nikel and Reid (2006).