Constructing citizenship in post-conflict contexts: the cases of Liberia and Rwanda. (15th March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Russell, Susan Garnett; Quaynor, Laura
• Is Part Of: Globalisation, societies and education. Volume 15:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 248
• Page End: 270
• Publication Date: 2017-03-15
• Subjects: Citizenship -- education -- post-conflict -- Sub-Saharan Africa; Globalization -- Periodicals; Globalization -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Education -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Education -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Education and state -- Periodicals; Educational sociology -- Periodicals; International education -- Periodicals; 379
• DOI: 10.1080/14767724.2016.1195723
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1476-7724

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In post-conflict and fragile contexts, one central aim of education is to prepare citizens to rebuild society and manage conflict. In this paper, we discuss the ways that citizenship education, students' civic attitudes, and student civic practices vary across two post-conflict contexts in Africa: Liberia and Rwanda. First, we consider the historical and current complexities of citizenship education in these countries drawing on a post-colonial framework and Osler and Starkey's three dimensions of citizenship. Next, we discuss survey and interview data from secondary students based on separate multi-level case studies in the respective countries. We note differences and similarities in student conceptions of good citizenship, civic identity, classroom climate, and civic engagement across the two countries, as well as variation by school type and gender. Some notable findings included less active conceptions of citizenship and openness to discussing controversial issues in Rwanda than in Liberia, and less participation in out of school activities among young women than young men. These and other results highlight differing contextual values of development, security, freedom of speech, and civic action and the overall importance of citizenship education in a post-conflict context.