Swedish schools today are subject to enormous global and multi-cultural influences. Teachers and pupils interact daily with people who have other cultural affiliations. Issues such as democracy, equality, solidarity, and sustainable development have come to the fore in the education debate, and are the natural focus of citizen education. One of the main functions of citizenship education is to facilitate the democratic classroom participation of all pupils.

Citizenship Education discusses the ways teachers interact with pupils in the classroom in Great Britain, Finland, Portugal, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Examples are given of student teachers' theoretical views on classroom dialogue and how classroom dialogues are conducted in reality. The book also offers an overview of the national guidelines, approaches to citizenship education, and teacher training systems in each country.

"In a world which is tearing itself apart with violence - of all different kinds - this volume should be read not only by teachers and those who teach the teachers but also by anyone in the social sciences or humanities, staff or student, who is interested in making a better world for children - and for adults". Keith Pringle, Professor at London Metropolitan University

Margareta Sandström Kjellin is a Senior Lecturer and Jonas Stier is an Associate Professor at Mälardalen University, Sweden.