JOURNAL ARTICLE

Education for democratic rebellion: A concept inspired by Albert Camus and Erich Fromm.

  • Published In: Citizenship Teaching & Learning, 2025, v. 20, n. 2. P. 153 1 of 3

  • Database: Education Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Pausch, Markus 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the role of rebellion in citizenship education as essential for defending democratic principles against authoritarianism. Drawing on Albert Camus’s existential philosophy of rebellion and Erich Fromm’s social-psychological insights on freedom and authoritarianism, it argues that citizenship education should explicitly cultivate the competence to resist authoritarian tendencies not only politically but also in everyday life. The author examines how current frameworks, such as the Council of Europe’s Reference Framework for Competences of a Democratic Culture and global citizenship education, largely overlook rebellion as a civic virtue, despite overlaps in values like tolerance, critical thinking, and solidarity. The article concludes by advocating for educational approaches that promote courage, critical awareness of power, resilience, and respect for dissent and foreignness as integral to democratic citizenship.

Additional Information

  • Source:Citizenship Teaching & Learning. 2025/06, Vol. 20, Issue 2, p153
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Literature and Writing
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:17511917
  • DOI:10.1386/ctl_00184_1
  • Accession Number:188172585
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