Can citizenship
education help individuals to understand their democratic right?
The concept of citizenship is at the core of education
for democracy. This article discusses (1) what citizenship is; (2) why
citizenship is an essential element of democracy; and (3) how to teach about
citizenship in a democracy.
THE MEANING OF CITIZENSHIP
In a democracy, the source of all authority -- the
legitimate basis of all power -- is the collective body of the people, the
citizens of the polity. There is popular sovereignty of the citizens and
thereby government by consent of the governed. A citizen is a full and equal
member of a polity, such as a democratic nation-state (Mouffe 1995).
In some states or countries, citizenship, the
condition of being a citizen, is based on the place of a person's birth, which
is known as "jus soli" citizenship. In other places, the status of
citizen is based on the citizenship of one's parents, which is known as
"jus sanguinis" citizenship. Some countries use both bases for
ascribing citizenship. Further, most democratic states have established legal
procedures by which people without a birth-right to citizenship can become
naturalized citizens.
All other rights in the Jamaican
Constitution are guaranteed to everyone residing in the country, citizens and
noncitizens alike. The people of a
democratic country or nation-state may have various and overlapping identities
based on such factors of society as religion, race, ethnicity, social class,
and gender. However, the single identity possessed equally by all citizens of
the polity, regardless of differences, is civic identity. Held in common by all
citizens, civic identity is based on freely given commitment to certain civic
principles and values of the democracy.
Contributor:
Yanique Rose
4th Year History and Social
Studies Student
Bethlehem Moravian College
Indeed citizenship education can help with one knowing their democratic right. Persons will be able to understand their rihts and be able to excersise their franchise for the betterment of their country and not only for themselves.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Ms. Porter, citizenship education indeed can help in the process of educating people of their democratic right but much needs to be done in edifying persons of their rights through the social media, press media etc.
ReplyDelete