How to outline an education for a democratic citizenship beyond national boundaries? In times of globalization, and with intensified pressure from the European Union on its nation states to provide for a common European identity through education, this question becomes crucial for national policymaking within Europe. In this text focus rests on Swedish Education policy, in order to shed light upon what is marked out for Swedish compulsory schools-commission to foster democratic citizens at the end of the 20th century. On the basis of earlier done policy research on this national policy making arena, it is argued that its fostering agenda transcends the nation state tends to include certain groups of people, while others are being excluded. It is further argued that these including and excluding divides are based upon presupposed ethno-cultural properties.
Children's Identity and Citizenship in Europe Thematic Network, CiCe