Supervisor(s) : Prof Sile O Connor ( School of Policy Studies), Dr. Michael Strain ( School of Education)
Title of Project : Exploring connections between political disaffection and citizenship education in Northern Ireland: a critique of a synthesis of a range of current research critical to a coherent approach to effective schooling for democracy
Project Description :
The thesis critiques the pedagogical and political underpinnings of Citizenship Education, and in doing so broadens the typical focus of much research on citizenship education so as to allow other contemporary debates and ideas related to the wider social and political climate in Northern Ireland to be considered. A key focus of the research is on young people, and attempts to explain and account for young people’s political disaffection whilst exposing young people’s reliance on adults both within the school system and in wider society. Using a mixed methods approach the thesis draws on a wide range of literature and general ideas (e.g. relationality, social capital, social cohesion) which are systematically explored and synthesised in order to answer the key research question; which asks whether CE in N.I is suitable to addressing young people’s political disaffection.
From the very beginning the ideas central to the thesis have been well received, as evidenced by my attendance at a Commonwealth Parliamentarians conference in 2003, the presentation of papers at several conferences in England (Conflict Research Society Annual Conference 2003; Centre for Local Democracy Conference 2003; Commonwealth Parliamentarians Annual Conference, Wilton Park, Sussex. 2003) followed by a recent presentation of more up to date material at an international conference in Belfast (‘In states of denial?’, Equality & Social Inclusion: International Conference, Wellington Park Hotel Belfast, Feb 2006). In addition to having written and published several book reviews I have published an article in the journal Local Governance (2004, Vol. 30, No.1).
Throughout the phd I have also acquired skills and qualifications in areas of interest to me. These include a City & Guilds (Level 1) qualification in web design, and an N.I.O.C.N (Level 3) qualification in Managing Diversity & Facilitating Community Relations Work. I have 2 years experience of leading undergraduate seminars and have gained a membership of the Higher Education Academy as an Associate Practitioner. ( N.I.O.C.N = Northern Ireland Open College Network)
Other Information :
Future plans are broad and include the desire to explore the fairly contemporary concept of political disaffection/apathy through an exploration of the Aristotelian idea of Akrasia. This builds on my undergraduate training in philosophy.
I’m also particularly interested in the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu and in exploring and applying his concepts and ideas to the ideas presented in my thesis. An article on this theme is already in the offing.
In addition to this, believing that many of the currently available resource materials to support teachers in their delivery of Citizenship Education are lacking a radical edge I hope to develop some materials to address this imbalance.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.
Project Description :
The thesis critiques the pedagogical and political underpinnings of Citizenship Education, and in doing so broadens the typical focus of much research on citizenship education so as to allow other contemporary debates and ideas related to the wider social and political climate in Northern Ireland to be considered. A key focus of the research is on young people, and attempts to explain and account for young people’s political disaffection whilst exposing young people’s reliance on adults both within the school system and in wider society. Using a mixed methods approach the thesis draws on a wide range of literature and general ideas (e.g. relationality, social capital, social cohesion) which are systematically explored and synthesised in order to answer the key research question; which asks whether CE in N.I is suitable to addressing young people’s political disaffection.
From the very beginning the ideas central to the thesis have been well received, as evidenced by my attendance at a Commonwealth Parliamentarians conference in 2003, the presentation of papers at several conferences in England (Conflict Research Society Annual Conference 2003; Centre for Local Democracy Conference 2003; Commonwealth Parliamentarians Annual Conference, Wilton Park, Sussex. 2003) followed by a recent presentation of more up to date material at an international conference in Belfast (‘In states of denial?’, Equality & Social Inclusion: International Conference, Wellington Park Hotel Belfast, Feb 2006). In addition to having written and published several book reviews I have published an article in the journal Local Governance (2004, Vol. 30, No.1).
Throughout the phd I have also acquired skills and qualifications in areas of interest to me. These include a City & Guilds (Level 1) qualification in web design, and an N.I.O.C.N (Level 3) qualification in Managing Diversity & Facilitating Community Relations Work. I have 2 years experience of leading undergraduate seminars and have gained a membership of the Higher Education Academy as an Associate Practitioner. ( N.I.O.C.N = Northern Ireland Open College Network)
Future plans are broad and include the desire to explore the fairly contemporary concept of political disaffection/apathy through an exploration of the Aristotelian idea of Akrasia. This builds on my undergraduate training in philosophy.
I’m also particularly interested in the ideas of Pierre Bourdieu and in exploring and applying his concepts and ideas to the ideas presented in my thesis. An article on this theme is already in the offing.
In addition to this, believing that many of the currently available resource materials to support teachers in their delivery of Citizenship Education are lacking a radical edge I hope to develop some materials to address this imbalance.
If you would like to learn more about how we can help further your studies and career opportunities, please contact us.