The key question for education in multicultural societies is learning to live together as ‘intercultural citizens’. During historical periods of state formation, citizenship education has been used to encourage patriotism and identity with the nation-state and construct an illusory sense of sameness or homogeneity. In fact, diversity is inherent in all communities and cultures as well as being an essential feature of democracy.

Consequently, recognition of the right of people and citizens to develop multiple identities and loyalties in a globalizing world requires a reconceptualisation of the basis of citizenship education.

This talk draws on the research and analysis in the recent book Teachers and Human Rights Education. It will be illustrated by examples of intercultural schools as places where learning to live together is based not on relativism but on relationalism. This requires agreement on procedural principles and struggles to arrive at reasonable accommodations.

This guest lecture is arranged by Claus Haas.