Full Description
The core message of this educational book is that democracy is, more than ever before, in need of the personal contribution of engaged citizens. Democracy is viable only if it is rooted in the hearts and minds of citizens who feel responsible not only for their own well-being, but also for the quality of social relationships in a society with marked differences in race, religion, culture, and gender.
Three basic features define personalized democracy: A critical attitude not only towards others but also towards oneself; learning not only from others but also from oneself; and participation in society with attention to the contradictive nature of one's own mind. The authors emphasize that the development of personalized democracy and global citizenship requires participation at different identity levels: I as individual, we as members of social groups, we as part of humanity, and we as part of the earth. Written for future teachers at secondary level, the book contains dialogical self theory, research and a wide range of exercises.
Contents
PART 1: OPPOSITION; 1. I-positions: who are you and where are you?; 2. Are you tolerant vis-à-vis alternative viewpoints?; 3. Suspension of judgement: why is it so difficult?; 4. Flexible change of perspective: becoming a dancer; 5. Meta positions: look at yourself as if from a helicopter in the sky; 6. Tolerance for uncertainty: helpful or unhelpful?; 7. Emotion and reason: can they hold hands?; Epilogue Part 1; Quiz Part 1; PART 2: COOPERATION; 8. Learning from yourself; 9. The power of listening; 10. When values matter; 11. Depolarizing of opposition; 12. From debate to dialogue; 13. Empathy: a frequently used word, but difficult to express; Epilogue Part 2; Quiz Part 2; PART 3: PARTICIPATION; 14. Four levels of identity: are you just an individual or more than that?; 15. From group identity to human identity: what does it mean when you call yourself "human"?; 16. Are we masters of the earth or part of it?; 17. How can we promote inner democracy?; 18. What obstructs our inner democracy?; Epilogue Part 3; Quiz Part 3
