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Erik Lundberg
SVEN
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Book chapter

Tolerance and other citizen competencies

2017Abdelzadeh, A., & Lundberg, E.In Lundberg, E. (Ed.), Mechanisms of tolerance: an anthology. Stockholm: The Living History Forum

What is this study about?

The study examines how tolerance relates to other civic competences that are important for a democratic society. Rather than treating tolerance as an isolated attitude, its relationship to other democratic orientations and resources among young people is analysed. The study thereby raises the question of whether different civic competences develop together or should be understood as distinct dimensions of democratic citizenship.

What did we find?

The results show that tolerance is part of a broader pattern of civic orientations, but that different democratic competences are not the same thing and do not necessarily develop in parallel. For example, a young person may have strong resources or orientations on one dimension of democratic citizenship without simultaneously displaying a corresponding level of tolerance. The study thus shows why tolerance needs to be analysed as a dimension of its own while being understood in relation to other civic competences.

Why does it matter?

Democratic citizenship requires more than a single attribute. Being politically interested, feeling capable of participating, or having trust does not automatically mean that people also accept those they dislike. The study therefore shows why democratic competence needs to be understood as multidimensional. This matters both for research on political socialisation and for the work of schools and other societal institutions in strengthening young people's democratic development.

Citation

Abdelzadeh, A., & Lundberg, E. (2017) Tolerance and other citizen competencies. In Lundberg, E. (Ed.), Mechanisms of tolerance: an anthology. Stockholm: The Living History Forum 145–170

Research area

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