The Civic Discourse Project: ‘Civic Education and Renewal’

What is education for if not to prepare citizens for meaningful civic participation in the institutions of American government and society? How can we restore healthy civic participation and discussion to American democracy? What sort of education will the renewal of our civic institutions require?

Tackling these questions are Peter Levine of the Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University and Wilfred McClay of the University of Oklahoma. The two respected professors visited Arizona State University’s Tempe campus to participate in the School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership’s Citizenship and Civic Leadership in America Conference.

Levine and McClay ask how we can restore American civic legitimacy. Levine explores what it means to fulfill your civic duty by asking “what should we do?” McClay delves into the idea of civic identity, and precisely what kind of republic the United States choses to be.

The School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership’s annual ‘Civic Education and Renewal’ lecture provides an indispensable forum for the school to include historical and contemporary conversations about civic duty for America within the framework of civic discourse that inspires all of our public programs.

MORE: Read about the latest season of The Civic Discourse Project or see all this season’s episodes.