The state school as a political «arena»: context and ambivalences in political socialization at school

Abstract

This article is part of a current research project on the topic of political socialization in secondary schools in Portugal. Our aim is to describe the background to political socialization at school in the light of the school experience today, the school as institution, and the role of educational critiques and reforms. The article goes on to question recent mechanisms designed to put «education for citizenship» on the formal curriculum. It concludes by questioning the place of «education for citizenship» in the ambivalent context of student life today.