Teaching Tolerance in a Globalized World: An Introduction

Abstract

The increasing diversity of student populations is a global educational trend. The relatively recent rapid influx of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers, coupled with issues of increasing intolerance, social exclusion and feelings of alienation, and extremism among young people, are posing complex challenges for educational systems around the world. Education has a key role to play in preparing future generations to address these problems and ensuring that young people acquire the social, civic, and intercultural competences needed for active and successful participation in society. This book presents five empirical studies, designed to examine differing factors and conditions that may help schools and teachers in their endeavors to promote tolerance in a globalized world. The 2009 International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) provided the research data. This introductory chapter describes the overall theoretical framework, discusses key constructs, and outlines the aims guiding the five studies, concluding with an overview of all chapters.

How Primary School Children Perceive Tolerance by Technology Supported Instruction in Digital Transformation During Covid 19

“…Social exclusion and marginalizing behaviors among students that emerge in this situation constitute a problem of tolerance. In order to overcome these problems, education can help students prepare for social life and gain competence in cultures (Isac et al, 2018 ). Tolerance awareness can be gained through education at schools.…”

Citizenship Norms and Tolerance in European Adolescents

“…It is clear that an important aspect of good citizenship is the attitude of tolerance towards others (Almond and Verba 1963;Sherrod and Lauckhardt 2009). Tolerance is a multidimensional concept, which includes a wide range of attitudes towards different groups that may take various forms (Green et al 2006;Isac et al 2018). For example, political tolerance refers to giving different groups in society democratic and political rights, whereas social tolerance is related to contact with "others" (e.g., inter-ethnic friendships) (Isac et al 2018).…”

“…Tolerance is a multidimensional concept, which includes a wide range of attitudes towards different groups that may take various forms (Green et al 2006;Isac et al 2018). For example, political tolerance refers to giving different groups in society democratic and political rights, whereas social tolerance is related to contact with "others" (e.g., inter-ethnic friendships) (Isac et al 2018). According to Gibson (2007), tolerance can be defined as: "the willingness to put up with disagreeable ideas and groups in order to peacefully coexist."…”

Intercultural Dialogue in the European Education Policies

“…Scholars have noted how tolerance is a "controversial, multifaceted and complex concept" (Isac et al 2018a, 128) that evokes both positive and negative meanings (DIALLS 2018). If it is understood as a willingness to put up with objectionable ideas and groups (Sniderman et al 1989;Mutz 2002), it encompasses negative attitudes towards difference, including prejudice and intolerance (Isac et al 2018b). In a positive sense, however, tolerance denotes the willingness to extend "freedoms to those whose ideas one rejects, whatever these might be" (Sullivan et al 1979, 784).…”