Introduction: Youth, Citizenship, and Political Science Education: Questions for the Discipline

Abstract

The introduction to this volume examines the relationship between youth, citizenship, and political science education. It argues that, at present, false barriers exist between research and teaching, which unnecessarily create distance between political science and real-world politics. In fact, research and teaching are mutually beneficial. The article begins by showing how research into political science education can shed light on existential questions in political science, such as: “What is politics?” and “How do (young) people come to understand politics?” It then discusses how education, politics, and society are interlinked—for researchers and students to understand how politics works, it is necessary for them to engage in “experiential learning.” Finally, the introduction demonstrates how good political science education enhances both pedagogical and democratic goals (as illustrated by the other contributions to this volume), given that good teaching in our discipline inevitably supports the central pillars of civic education.