Democracy? You think you know?

Participating in democratic processes is seen as being a fundamental aspect of citizenship. All pupils need a broad knowledge and understanding of the rights, responsibilities and duties of citizens, as well as an understanding of forms of government. Notions of citizenship have been forged alongside the expansion of the right to vote and the development of our ideas about democracy. In this free course, Democracy? You think you know? we explore different interpretations of democracy and strategies for involving pupils in consideration of these issues within the citizenship curriculum.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• 1 Is democracy really such a good thing?
• 1 Is democracy really such a good thing?
• 2 What are some possible alternatives?
• 2 What are some possible alternatives?
• 3 Doing it directly
• 3 Doing it directly
• 3.1 The Athenians, the Swiss, and Arnold Schwarzenegger
• 4 Democracy and deliberation
• 4 Democracy and deliberation
• 4.1 Can talking do more than voting?
• 5 Who are the real democrats?
• 5 Who are the real democrats?
• 5.1 A story of fox hunting
• 5.2 Further reading
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgements