PREFACE: This book contains a revised collection of previously published articles
spanning a period of five years (2004-2009) during which my seminal
thoughts on democratic citizenship education have been developed.
I situate myself in relation to these works on democratic citizenship
education as well as on (un)pedagogical encounters throughout the
major part of my life, to make a case for a communitarian conception of
democratic citizenship education.
Central to this book is the notion that democratic citizenship education
ought to be deliberative, compassionate and friendly in order that teachers
and students (learners) may respect one another and take risks in and
through their pedagogical encounters. In this way, hopefully, students and
teachers may become more critical, explorative and engaging, thus making
democratic citizenship education a highly pragmatic experience for the
sake of cultivating our civility and humanity.