Education for democracy and citizenship

This chapter is set within the field of democracy education. It takes unequal power relationships in schools and society as its theoretical perspective. It offers an original contribution by clarifying complex issues inherent in UK government policy on democracy in schools, while problematising them for undergraduate students. It critiques notions of political apathy and classroom debate by setting them within the context of media ownership and of unequal power relations between the institution and the student. It is significant in its influence upon other academics within the field of education studies. Its rigour lies in the depth of analysis of official documentation informed by political theory. The chapter was read by a reader and by the editors who requested merely minor amendments.