{"id":13270,"date":"2014-02-03T12:24:38","date_gmt":"2014-02-03T17:24:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/?p=13270"},"modified":"2014-02-03T12:24:38","modified_gmt":"2014-02-03T17:24:38","slug":"calling-applicants-for-the-sixth-annual-summer-institute-of-civic-studies-at-tufts-universitys-tisch-college-july-7-through-july-18-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/peterlevine.ws\/?p=13270","title":{"rendered":"Calling applicants for the Sixth Annual Summer Institute of Civic Studies at Tufts University\u2019s Tisch College (July 7 through July 18, 2014)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sixth annual Summer Institute of Civic Studies<\/a> will be an intensive, two-week, interdisciplinary seminar that considers civic theories and civic practices as part of an effort to develop the new field of civic studies. To date, more than 100 practitioners, advanced graduate students, and faculty from diverse fields of study have participated. The Institute is organized by Peter Levine of Tufts University\u2019s Jonathan M. Tisch College and Karol Soltan of the University of Maryland.<\/p>\n

WHAT IS CIVIC STUDIES?<\/p>\n

The idea of a field of \u201ccivic studies\u201d was proposed in 2007 in a joint statement<\/a> by Harry Boyte, University of Minnesota; Stephen Elkin, University of Maryland; Peter Levine, Tufts University; Jane Mansbridge, Harvard University; Elinor Ostrom, Indiana University; Karol Soltan, University of Maryland; and Rogers Smith, University of Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

The field can be seen as the intellectual component of the emerging movement for civic renewal.<\/p>\n

Civic studies aims to develop ideas and ways of thinking helpful to citizens, understood as co-creators of their worlds. The field does not consider \u201ccitizens\u201d as official members of political jurisdictions, nor does it invoke the word \u201cdemocracy.\u201d One can be a co-creator in many settings, ranging from loose social networks, local communities, and religious congregations to the globe. Not all of these venues are, or could be, democracies.<\/p>\n

Civic studies asks, \u201cWhat should we do?\u201d It explores ethics (what is right and good?), facts (what is actually going on?), strategies (what would work?), and the institutions that we co-create. Good strategies may take many forms and use many instruments, but if a strategy addresses the question \u201cWhat should we do?\u201d, then it must guide our own actions\u2013it cannot simply be about how other people ought to act.<\/p>\n

Civic studies is not civic education. Nor is it the study of civic education. However, when more fully developed, it should influence how citizenship is taught in schools and colleges.<\/p>\n

For more on civic studies, see:<\/p>\n