This open access book presents an in-depth analysis of data from ICCS. An international group
of scholars critically address the state of civic and citizenship education in the four Nordic
countries that participated in the IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study
(ICCS) in 2009 and 2016. The findings are of particular relevance to educators at all levels
from school education through to teacher education.Nordic countries have long traditions of
democracy and their students have performed relatively well in the ICCS assessments.
Nonetheless citizenship education continues to evolve and has received increasing attention in
recent educational reforms indicating policymakers understanding that schools play an
important role in establishing democratic values among future citizens.Data from ICCS can be
used to analyze discuss and reflect on the status of civic and citizenship education and can
contribute to the discourse on the potential role of education in contributing to sustainable
democracies for a common future. However teaching citizenship and learning democracy are two
different things. While young people can be taught about democracy in school it is vital that
schools work together with the wider community in which youth operate to strengthen civic
understanding and values for all young people regardless of their social and economic
background.
