Youth and Civic Education

Deficits in social cohesion call for mending the social fabric through an education grounded in quality of life and living together. Civic education-which is, above all, the learning of how to live together-offers a path forward, while civic service provides a response to the dysfunctions of our society and to pressing social issues. How can we successfully implement and support initiatives that promote young people's active citizenship and strengthen their effective participation in democratic life without a solid grasp of the conceptual framework needed to avoid potential inconsistencies? Indeed, failing to distinguish between incivility and a lack of civic-mindedness can create confusion among those working on the ground. Similarly, civic-mindedness and civility are two related concepts with different realities and implications. So, what exactly are we talking about?