Resistance and devotedness: learning democracy under pressure

If we imagine democratic education as entire school communities practising participation, to what extent can schools escape the current approach taken in the public education system? What if they encounter hostility and restrictions? Can we learn democracy through transgressions and resistance? This article tells the story of three school communities where participation and solidarity are growing under pressure. Examining democratic practices on the ground and the conflicts that arise gives us insights into what is at stake in state schools.

“There is so much more to us than opposition”

An interview with André Chassaigne, Member of France’s National Assembly

NEW POLITICAL HORIZONS

The “democracy” born in the West was in open contradiction with the democratic idea of people ruling themselves. “Democratic” Greek men fiercely discriminated against women, slaves and “barbarians”. For Aristotle, Greek democracy, like tyranny or oligarchy, could never seek the common good. In fact, he offered several arguments against any form of government by the majority.

Storming City Hall

In a handful of cities across France, left-wing parties are setting aside their differences and running united tickets in March’s municipal elections. But tensions and uncertainties never linger far from the surface.

The Europeanisation of French defence policy?

Macron has committed to raising military spending in France. His goal? To increase France’s and the EU’s capacity for ‘strategic autonomy’. What does this mean, and what else should you know about Macron’s defence policy?

The first left-wing coalition government since the Second Republic comes into being

After 4 elections in as many year, Unidas Podemos takes on a minority stake in the coalition government spearheaded by the social democrats, PSOE Unidas Podemos will be entrusted with a...