The success of democracy depends on the formation of the social capital conducive to the maintenance of democratic patterns of behavior. Civic education is the most important instrument of the formation of such social capital and is, therefore, an essential responsibility of the democratic state. The concept of social capital, introduced in the social science theory by such authors as Pierre Bourdieu (1984) and James Coleman (1988), implies that the quality of democracy depends on the relations between citizens, particularly on the acceptance of such values as trust in others and willingness to accept them as equals. Consequently, the way in which human rights are perceived in a society has profound importance for the quality of political life and constitutes the crucial component of democratic political culture.

The paper considers the relationship between remembrance narratives on national heroes and proliferation of political attitudes, values and behaviours during democratisation. It discusses the impact of interpretations of the past on the development of civil society in the context of public education as an instrument of identity politics. Comparing the experiences of Chile, Estonia, Georgia, Poland, South Africa and Spain, the authors present the role of national heroes in the legitimisation of behaviours and attitudes, new elites and national unity. The discussed results prove that the establishment of a pro-democratic system of civic education increases chances for successful consolidation of democracy in post-authoritarian countries.

This research aims to develop a model of a civic education textbook on the basis of living values education. This study uses the approach of Research and Development at the stage of product development. Results reveal the follow- ing: 1) living values education-based civic education textbooks conceptually incorporate living values and the principles of living values education into the textbook; 2) the textbook chapters include title, introduction, concept roadmap, keywords, presentation of materials, clarification of the values of life, exercises, summary, reflection, authentic assessment, feedback, and follow-up activities; 3) the values of life can be integrated into the textbook through features of civic values, words of wisdom, analysis of life values, reflection, and attitude assessment.

The study presents a critical analysis of visual materials contained in civic education textbooks with the purpose to identify traits of discrimination of individuals with a “skin colour” other than “white”. The undertaken quantitative and qualitative analyses allowed for drawing a conclusion that the depiction of persons in the researched visual material did in fact bear certain traits of discrimination. Moreover, it was concluded that what may be observed is compound discrimination. The studies presented in the article were conducted within a larger-scale project entitled Gender in textbooks.

The article considers the problems of scientific comprehension of electronic participation from the point of view of public administration. Attention is paid to the highest form of e-democracy, namely the involvement of citizens in decision-making through ICT. The theoretical and methodological bases of research of electronic participation are defined - its levels, models, directions are analyzed. It is proposed to consider the process of involving citizens not only from a purely technological perspective, but taking into account a wider range of factors. The influence of social factors on the process of public involvement is characterized. Insufficient motivation of the citizens to interact with the government is highlighted as one of the most important obstacles to the development of e-democracy. The leading role in overcoming the existing problems is given to the fundamental science of public administration, whose task is not only to study the features of separated tools of e-participation, but also to determine strategic priorities for involving citizens in decision-making for sustainable development. The main strategy for increasing the interest of citizens in cooperation with the authorities and improving their decision-making skills in the information society is the formation of an efficient system of civic education.

This study seeks to analyze the students’ need, the conceptual model, and generate a living values-based digital learning resource model in Civic Education. The research and development design was adopted, with the subjects being junior high school students in Bandung City and West Bandung Regency, Indonesia. The students need living values-based digital learning resources in accordance with 21st century learning and skills. Conceptually, the model of living values-digital based learning resources is one that incorportaes living values and living values education principles into civic education learning materials through various platforms in the Moodle-based Learning Management System (LMS). The model product in the form of a Moodle-based LMS contains teaching materials, living values, media, discussion forums, assignment uploads, and evaluation for the civic education. The model is thought to develop student’s character.

This study seeks to delineate a living values-based authentic assessment model in civic education to foster student character. A research and development design was adopted, with the subjects being high school students in Bandung City and West Bandung Regency, Indonesia. Conceptually, a living values-based authentic assessment is one that amalgamates living values and living values education principles into civic education learning assessments by taking into account the principles of authentic assessment, the core and basic competencies in the curriculum, the main characteristics in the educational program for strengthening character, principles for writing questions based on higher-order thinking skills, and principles for preparing assessments. The types of authentic assessment developed herein are attitude assessment and self-assessment. Based on the results of the validation of experts and practitioners, it is found that the majority (82.84%) rated the authentic assessment instruments as good.

This study seeks to: 1) to generate a product of a living values-based authentic assessment model in civic learning in high school; 2) to test the effectiveness of the model on the character development of students. Research and Development design was employed. Data were collected through questionnaires, attitude scales, interviews, and focus group discussions. An interactive analysis model, quantitative descriptive, and the two-difference test mean were utilised to analyse the data. Participants in the study were Students and Civics Education teachers in ten high schools in Bandung, Indonesia. Results reveal: 1) the model product comprised attitude assessment, self-assessment, and peer assessment which integrates the values of life into the assessment aspects of learning material according to the curriculum; 2) The results of model trials indicate that significant differences arise in the character development of students before and after the application of the model.

The paper discusses the influence of FaceReader-coded emotional arousal and valence on the effectiveness of civic education. The experimental design allowed the authors to observe relationships between emotional responsiveness and memorisation, attitude change, and prosocial behaviour. In the study with 90 adult participants, we video-recorded facial expressions while watching three parallel versions of a narrative on anti-communist opposition in Poland. The analysis of collected data suggested that emotional arousal is associated with prosocial behaviour and the valence of signalling with an attitude change, while cognitive effects are not related to emotional responsiveness. Moreover, civic education depends on the triad of emotions: sadness, happiness, and disgust.

The aim of the survey was to find out what attitudes young people aged twelve to seventeen maintain towards adult civic qualities and virtues as compared with their demands for changes in civic behaviour. The objective of the study was to find out whether, based on their perception of adult behaviour, the critical youth wish for changes in civic behaviour and which aspects of citizen life they should be linked to. The survey tool used was a questionnaire investigating attitudes and behaviour in various situations of citizens’ everyday life. There were 33 Likert-type question items in the questionnaire (e.g. They are proud of their country.). The questionnaire showed a high level of reliability. The survey sample consisted of 533 adolescent respondents (aged 12–17). There were four factors generated through factor analysis from the collected results: 1. Respect for traditional social norms and roles; 2. Tolerance and respect for other people’s rights; 3. Patriotism and trust in public institutions; 4. Application of constitutional civic rights. The adolescent respondents were asked to mark the statements which should be changed. The outcome confirmed the hypothesis of high criticality in the respondents, which we consider a significant social challenge: adolescents demand a major change in civic behaviour described by the total of 14 items (42.7%) in all four factors. The highest number of proposed changes falls into the factor of “Respect for traditional social norms and roles”, while the fewest proposed changes concern the factor of “Patriotism and trust in public institutions”. According to the respondents, traditional social norms and roles and tolerance and respect for other people´s rights should be strengthened as well. The attitude towards active civic virtues implies a need for better and more sophisticated civic virtues education, both within the family and in schools. The results obtained from this survey will be used in generating civic education programmes for primary and secondary schools.

The authors discuss the transformation in civic education in Rwanda. Before the arrival of the colonizers, Rwanda had traditions in education and uniting societies. Colonialism destroyed the educational system and divided the society. The re-introduction of the traditional system has been also explored – the example of the Itorero program and its impact on the unity and reconciliation efforts of the government – on the basis of various conducted studies. The main aspects that are taken into account in this study include: the significance of civic education, the Itorero program and the best predictors of success, and the role of civic education in promoting the well-being of communities and nations. The authors not only analyze the functioning of the Itorero institution, but also aim to seek answers to the questions of whether and to what extent the Itorero program affects civic education and to what extent it is an effective tool for uniting the Rwandan society.

The Directions of Contemporary Debate about Civic Education in Germany in the Context of Deliberations over Model Citizens, Maturity, and Competences

In German concepts of education until the end of World War II was the trend dominant to interpret the notion of „good citizen” through the prism of state and its political characteristics. In the late sixties of the twentieth century one began to challenge this understanding. But it was the political transformation in Central and Eastern Europe, and above all the integration processes in Germany and Europe in the early nineties, which led to a redefinition of the concept of „citizen” and modified the idea of his patterns. That’s when the idea was ultimately rejected the „good citizen” as a guarantor of stability of the political agenda, and the goal of civic education was superior to „civic maturity”. In connection with the change of paradigm, a „citizen” was discovered again (Rückkehr des Bürgers) in the public debate. Defining the essence of the concept of „good citizen”, the German authors began to identify them as „democratic” and started a new discussion complemented the existing conceptualization of the citizen to demand his maturity as the overarching objective of civic education and the need to strengthen its competencies. The aim of the article is to present the key directions of the German debate on civic education in the context of civil practice, as well as the positions of the features characterizing the normative notion of the citizen, which should be its „maturity”. Particularly important for strengthening the cognitive aspect is to enter the foregoing, in the current discourse related to competence as a result of the learning process, but it will be important to draw attention to democratic competence.

This study aims to describe the conceptual model of digital-based living values activities project learning, students’ perceptions of implementing this model, and the reinforcement of students’ Pancasila character. The research utilised a mixed methods approach on students and teachers at junior high schools in Bandung, Indonesia. The findings reveal that the digital-based living values activities project learning model integrates project-based learning, living values education and digital learning. Students perceived the implementation of this model quite positively, and the reinforcement of students’ Pancasila character was categorised as good. This model can be used to strengthen students’ character.

Model of Civic Education in the Republic of Austria

Civic education (politische Bildung) is one of the pillars of a democratic state. Austria, following German solutions, has created its own model of political education. The first part of the article outlines terminological issues in the light of Polish and German literature. Next, the conditions, goals and assumptions of civic education in Austria will be presented, with particular emphasis on its role in shaping civic competences. Further analysis of the Austrian model will allow the formulation of conclusions and recommendations, which may be impulses for further discussion in the face of the internationalization of science and transnational transfer of knowledge and competences, as well as for the implementation of innovative systemic solutions in the field of civic education.