In democracy consensus is not essential; whilst participation is

Gene Brown

INTRODUCTION

Citizenship is conceived as a political category that tends to place people at a level of reciprocity and horizontality in the public space, involving people’s participation in the planning and implementation of a project of society. However, its development is uneven in scope and its achievements can not be considered as linear: the process of construction of citizenship is located in the heart of multiple debates, tensions and paradoxes in which issues related with equality and inequality, homogeneity and difference, have a key role.

This course will explore citizenship as a practice intended to develop collective power aimed to human emancipation and social transformation. From this perspective, we will explore the different discourses, logics, proposals and alternatives for social coexistence and organization, as well as a variety of social and educational experiences and practices linked to the construction of an ethical, critical, participative and transformative citizenship.

CONTEXT

The subject “Citizenship and Democratic participation” is part of the Concepts / Theory Module, and is offered in the third semester of the Master as a chosen subject for both routes of the Master: Cultural Studies and Intercultural Education in practice. Its total ECTS value is 5 credits.

RECOMMENDED PRIOR  KNOWLEDGE

Is not required any previous knowledge or formal requirement to take this course.

We emphasize the bilingual format (Spanish-English) of this subject. Some of its contents will be available in English language, and students will have the opportunity to carry out some of the works and activities in this language, if they so choose.

LEARNING OUTCOMES FROM THE SESSIONS

It is the intention to develop students’ ability to elaborate their own critical discourse on the current processes of re-conceptualization and reconstruction of citizenship, as well as analysing, planning and proposing social and educational initiatives to build a transforming citizenship.

To deliver this, we propose the following objectives:

• To understand, from a interdisciplinary approach, the different perspectives of discussion on the concepts of "democracy", "citizenship" and "participation", as well as the relations between them and the social and educational implications.
• To explore new discourses and experiences that contributes to the reconstruction of the meanings and practices of citizenship and participation.
• To critically analyse the possibilities and limitations of citizenship as an agent of social transformation.
• To train students on the formulation of creative proposals and educational strategies aimed at promoting the construction of an ethical, critical, participative and transforming citizenship.

CONTENTS

The contents of the course are structured around 4 general issues:

1. Democracy: models and controversies
2. Citizenship meanings and dimensions in contemporary society
3. Citizenship participation: New contexts and experiences
4. Education, citizenship and participation

METHODOLOGY

The course offers an active and participative methodology based on reflection, communication and cooperation. It aims to build a learning community that makes it possible to develop, share and build knowledge on the basis of multidirectional and horizontal relationships.

BASIC BIBLIOGRAPHY

The basic documentation for the study of the subject will be available in the virtual platform, which will offer specific documents for each one of the topics included in the work plan.

COMPLIMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY

In addition to the basic documentation, we propose other readings that will delve into specific aspects of the contents.

STUDENT SUPPORT RESOURCES

The course offers the following resources to support study:

• Virtual course with different tools of communication, exchange and collaboration (forums, chat, documentation, working groups);
• Tutorial attention of the faculty;
• Audiovisual resources(radio, video).

UNED will be also providing students with other resources, such as physical and virtual access to the Library, to audiovisual contents through UNED Channel and to different tutorials and open materials.

TUTORING METHODOLOGY

The tutoring will be done primarily through the virtual platform of the course. Forums constitute the basic means of communication between faculty and students.

It also establishes the following schedule for tutoring:

Patricia Mata
Monday from 12:00 to 14:00 and from 16:00 to 18:00 h.
Tel +34 91 398 88 79

EVALUATION OF LEARNING

The evaluation will have a formative character, and will involve participation of students in the process, through self- and co-evaluation. It is conceived as an opportunity to strengthen communication and collaboration among the whole community of the course, as well as to contribute to the improvement of learning outcomes (work, activities) and of the course itself.