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The Space between Civic Education and Active Citizenship in Lebanon

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Rethinking Education for Social Cohesion

Part of the book series: Education, Economy and Society ((EDECSO))

Abstract

One winter morning in 2007, I sat with a civics teacher during her break between classes. In the middle of our conversation on her teaching experiences inside the civics classroom, she paused and raised a folder that carried her papers. “Look”, she said, “it’s gray”. “If it was orange, the kids would say “Hey, are you with General Aoun?” If it were blue, they would say ”Ah, so you’re with Hariri”. And if it was green, they would tell me I was with Franjiyeh. And so”, she smiled with frustration and said, “my folder is gray”.1 This anecdote illustrates the extent to which the youth in Lebanon are politically engaged within its sectarian culture. It also demonstrates a certain tension found in learning for active citizenship and social cohesion in the civics classroom, which this chapter will examine.

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Authors
  1. Bassel Akar
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cambridge, UK

    Maha Shuayb

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© 2012 Bassel Akar

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Akar, B. (2012). The Space between Civic Education and Active Citizenship in Lebanon. In: Shuayb, M. (eds) Rethinking Education for Social Cohesion. Education, Economy and Society. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137283900_11

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