Polarisation characterises today's society and threatens democracy. It can arise when opinions and attitudes become highly contradictory and groups gather along ideological, political, cultural or religious dividing lines. This can create echo chambers that reinforce existing perceptions, normalise extreme positions and can lead to radicalisation and acceptance of violence.
Theoretical perspectives and research show that polarisation weakens the willingness to engage in dialogue, tolerance and the ability to deal with disagreement. This undermines democracy and makes collective problem-solving difficult. Educational institutions therefore have a key role to play in counteracting polarisation and strengthening pupils' and students' ability to participate critically and independently in society.
This conference highlights the relevance of education in promoting inclusive engagement across dividing lines, with a focus on citizenship, democratic education, and religious and ethical education.
All theoretical, empirical and practice-oriented research from education-related disciplines such as pedagogy, religion, language studies, political science, philosophy and sociology are welcome!
Information about submission and registration can be found on the conference website. The deadline for submitting abstracts is 12 January.
Kontaktperson:
- inger.m.dalehefte@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 11 95