Demokrati- og medborgerskabsbegreber i grundskolens samfundsfag i Danmark, Norge, Sverige og Tyskland

Abstract

Citizenship education and social science education aims at preparing the students for participation in the development of democratic societies. But which concept of democracy is the education based on, and aimed at? This article takes as its point of departure a discussion of concepts of democracy/citizenship including liberal, communitarian, republican and deliberative democracy. Through an analysis of curricula from social science education or citizenship education in lower secondary schools in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and politische Bildung (political education) in Berlin- Brandenburg, it is discussed which concepts of citizenship prevail in these, and, in the case of Denmark and Sweden, how these have developed in the last 40 years. Furthermore it is discussed, with reference to the German “Beutelsbacher-Konsensus” whether the citizenship education should be aimed at one concept of democracy if this concept is contested in itself.