Research article | Open Access
International Journal of Progressive Education 2016, Vol. 12(1) 33-50
Spectators or Patriots? Citizens in the Information Age
pp. 33 - 50
Publish Date: February 01, 2016 | Single/Total View: 257/786 | Single/Total Download: 329/1.723
Abstract
In theory, a strong democracy rests on robust citizen participation. The practice in most democracies is quite different. This gap presents a challenge, which can be narrowed by augmenting civic education to bring it up to date with the current information environment and thus give citizens the opportunity to participate. Robert Dahl's work on democracy provides a model that looks at this problem structurally. He writes about the ideals and the actual institutions necessary for a democracy and if we situate his model in the modern information environment we get a better idea of how to improve civic education. Successful citizen participation in the U.S. relies on two key factors: the ability to winnow relevant information as well as an opportunity to get reliable information from alternative sources.
Keywords: Democracy, citizenship, Dahl, civic education, Greenwald, Blogger, Information, Alternative Sources, Dewey, news literacy
APA 7th edition
Dhawan, A. (2016). Spectators or Patriots? Citizens in the Information Age. International Journal of Progressive Education, 12(1), 33-50.
Harvard
Dhawan, A. (2016). Spectators or Patriots? Citizens in the Information Age. International Journal of Progressive Education, 12(1), pp. 33-50.
Chicago 16th edition
Dhawan, Amrita (2016). "Spectators or Patriots? Citizens in the Information Age". International Journal of Progressive Education 12 (1):33-50.
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