Teaching Strong Democracy: Education and Political Commitments

The election of Donald Trump has provoked national and international debate. In this workshop, Professor Norris will engage key questions about the nature of the relationship between democracy, education, and the public good.

Questions addressed will include: What does the election of Trump say about the meaning of education in a democratic society? How does democracy relate to notions of the ‘public good’? What are the political justifications for the role of neutrality, bias and balance in educational contexts? To whom or what does education owe political commitments? Can—or should—education do anything about these trends? What role can education play in addressing and/or resisting political phenomena?

Norris will explore the pressing issues related to both the political character of education, and the imperative to advance a robust conception of democracy for the public good in the face of current threats and challenges.