DOCUMENT RESUME ED 480 425 SO 035 277 Bragaw, Donald, Ed. AUTHOR The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges. TITLE Street Law, Inc., Washington, DC.; Social Science Education INSTITUTION Consortium, Inc., Boulder, CO.; Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, DC.; Constitutional Rights Foundation, Los Angeles, CA.; Constitutional Rights Foundation, Chicago, IL.; American Forum for Global Education, New York, NY. Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), SPONS AGENCY Washington, DC. ISBN-0-94467-73-5 ISBN 2003-00-00 PUB DATE 230p.; A Resource Guide produced for the Democracy Education NOTE Exchange Project (DEEP). R304A010002B CONTRACT AVAILABLE FROM American Forum for Global Education, 120 Wall Street, Suite 2600, New York, NY 10005. Tel: 212-624-1300; Fax: 212-624- 1412; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.globaled.org/. For full text: http://www.globaled.org/ DemProcess.pdf. General (020) -- Guides Collected Works PUB TYPE Books (010) Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE EDRS Price MF01/PC10 Plus Postage. *Democracy; *European History; Foreign Countries; *Geographic DESCRIPTORS Regions; Global Education; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Social Studies *Europe (East) IDENTIFIERS ABSTRACT When the Berlin Wall (East Germany) came down, it symbolically foretold the end of the Soviet Union domination of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This resource guide examines the process toward democratization occurring in those regions. The guide updates the available classroom material on the democratic process. It is divided into three "Promises and Challenges" (contains five essays and nine sections: (1) "Voices of Transition" (contains eight essays and eight lessons); (2) lessons); and (3) "Fostering a Democratic Dialogue" (contains 3 essays and Includes six maps. Appended are: (1) Comprehensive Social eight lessons) . Studies Assessment Project Standards; (2) CSSAP--Portfolio Project; C. (3) Title VI Centers with Teacher Resources; and (4) D. Democracy Education Exchange Project (DEEP). (BT) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. AIN AIM el API $61. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS 0 BEEN GRANTED BY IT F S/), TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Cr) Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) . This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating a 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality BEST COPY AVAILABLE 2 CAn Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarly represent . The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges ' 1 I I 1 , EDITOIUAL CONSULTANT Donald Bragaw PROJECT DIRECTOR Linda Arkin The American Forum, Inc. Constitutional Rights Foundation-Los Angeles Constitutional Rights Foundation-Chicago Council of Chief State School Officers Street Law, Inc. Social Science Education Consortium Funded through a grant from the United States Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement BESTCOPY_AVAll ARIP I THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS: PROMISES AND CHALLENGES A resource guide produced for the Democracy Education Exchange Project (DEEP) The American Forum, Inc. Constitutional Rights Foundation-Chicago Constitutional Rights Foundation-Los Angeles Council of Chief State School Officers Social Science Education Consortium Street Law, Inc. ISBN: 0-94467-73-5 Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Educational Research and Improvement COVER DESIGN AND BOOK LAYOUT: SEYMOUR DESIGN GROUP, WHITE PLAINS, NY © 2003 The American Forum for Global Education The contents of this publication were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Educational Research and Improvement (Award # R304A010002B). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the DEEP Consortium or the U.S. Department of Education. AMEIUCAN FORUM FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION Suite 2600 New York, New York 10005 120 Wall Street Tel: 212-624-1300 Fax: 212-624-1412 Email: [email protected] Web address: http://www.globaled.org 4 PREFACE The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges Preface symbolically foretold the end of the "Soviet" dom- The terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 ination of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The and subsequent events, proved once again collapse of the monolithic communist state soon H.G. Wells' pronouncement that "Human followed, and by 1991 much of what was one history is more and more a race between education termed by Ronald Reagan as "the evil empire" had and catastrophe." Today, the education that is cru- disappeared. What emerged were independent cial is that which promotes and strengthens emerg- states with uncertain futures; states whose prom- ing democracies around the world and educates ised goal was democracy, but whose reality bespoke Americans about the lessons from these emerging a lingering attachment to past practices. democracies. Democracy, reputed to be the most difficult Dedicated to these twin goals, this publication governmental system to establish, is also devilish to grew out of the Democracy Education Exchange operate and maintain. While the newly independ- Project (DEEP). Created in 2001 with funding ent states profess democratic beliefs, the newly from the U.S. Department of Education's Office of emerged "democracies" have encountered endless Educational Research and Improvement, DEEP difficulties trying to create the atmosphere and the sought to improve the quality of civic education culture of democratic practice. Typically, students both nationally and internationally through cooper- in the United States accept democracy, or demo- ative exchange programs with emerging democra- cratic practices, as a given at birth. Even the study cies in the Newly Independent States of the former of democracy in civics or history classes tends to be Soviet Union. The DEEP Consortium, led by The routine and highly nationalistic in nature. For stu- American Forum, Inc. in partnership with the dents to discover that not all people or nations are Constitutional Rights Foundation-Los Angeles, the living under the democratic banner is somewhat of Constitutional Rights Foundation-Chicago, Street a revelation. What may be even more revealing is Education the Inc., Science Social Law, that there is not one form of democracy, but many. Consortium and the Council of Chief State School further, a key understanding for students Still Officers worked with teams from Armenia, should be that democracy is a developing system of Azerbaijan, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, government, requiring time and patience to mature. Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. What have we tried to accomplish in The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges ? Our When the Berlin Wall came crashing down it THE AMERICAN FORUM FOR GLOBAL EDUCAT ON 3 The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges PREFACE primary purpose is to "update" the available class- Studies, Harvard University; Daniel C. Waugh, room-ready materials. During the planning of University of Washington; Stephen E. Hanson, this guide, we found many excellent publica- University of Washington; and H. Michael tions. We have no wish to supplant these; rather Hartoonian, University of Minnesota. We are also we hope to supplement these books with addi- grateful for the generous support and assistance tional perspectives. This volume is not intended we received from Freedom House, a non-profit, as a prescription for teaching about democracy, nonpartisan organization, which continues to be but rather a resource book that teachers might "a clear voice for democracy and freedom around use to help them to understand the democratiza- the world." Next, we must thank our DEEP part- tion process going on in the former Soviet ners for sharing their stories and perspectives and Union, and how to begin helping U.S. students giving us the human side of life in the newly inde- grasp the major concepts of democracyas an pendent states. idea, as a system of government, and as a way of This publication would not have been possible life as found both here in the United States as without the leadership and vision of Donald well as in Russia, East Europe and Central Asia. Bragaw who, as the Editorial Consultant, lived This material can only begin that process; it is with this project for more than 6 months. hoped that it will encourage teachers to add, Without his efforts The Democratic Process: adjust and create, additional materials or lessons Promises and Challenges would still be in the talk- of their own to accomplish the larger goal of ing stages. Don was ably assisted by two young democracy understanding. and talented Yegor Ivanov, an researchers: This resource guide has been divided into three exchange student from Russia and Leyla Safarova, major segments: Promises and Challenges, Voices a native of Azerbaijan and a graduate student at of Transition, and Fostering a Democratic East Carolina University. Both of these individuals Dialogue. At the beginning of each section, there provided excellent initial research and offered are scholarly background essays followed by sug- insights into this publication. Fred Czarra, evalua- gested lesson plans. Needless to say, not all of the tion and international consultant to the Chief material is suitable for every classroom. We leave it State School Officers and Ria Boemi of The the individual teacher to decide how to use these American Forum, Inc. deserve credit for their lessons most effectively. The ingenuity and creativ- valiant efforts to bring consistency and coherence ity of teachers far exceed what we are capable of to the teacher lesson plans. Bonnie Slotnick doing here; they are the classroom experts! deserves a special mention for her copy editing Given the rapid changes in this region of the work. Special thanks go to those professionals who world, it is virtually impossible to stay abreast of helped to develop teacher resources and lesson current affairs. We must acknowledge our aca- plans: Ron Schukar, Social Science Educational demic consultants for their guidance and for the Consortium; Mary A. McFarland, professional background essays which provide us with a social studies education consultant and adjunct thoughtful of analysis Marta democracy: professor at Maryville University in St. Louis Mikkelson, University of Washington; Janet G County, Missouri; Kathleen Bragaw Butler, Vaillant, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Projects Director, Arlington (Va.) Public Schools; THE AMERICAN FORUM FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION 4 PREFACE The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges teachers who contributed lessons to this proj- Constitutional Rights Todd Clark, Director, ect: Jon Tuin, Willard Elementary School, Abbott, Emily Foundation-Los Angeles; Marlene Bennett-Stanley, John Berry Elemen- Constitutional Rights Foundation-Los Angeles. Cetera, John Berry tary School, Colleen to Carolyn Pereira, Special thanks goes Radha Friedman and Charlotte Anderson of Elementary School, Evelyn Handler, Lake View High School, Samantha Stolberg, Lake View Constitutional Rights Foundation-Chicago for High School, Cynthia Wendt, Sheridan School, having taken the initiative to bring teachers togeth- Elgin, Andrew Hirshman, Mundelein High er for the purpose of creating and sharing class- School, Susan Theotokatos, Mundelein High room lessons, activities and experiences. Thanks School. are also extended to the following Chicago area Finally, special recognition is due to the Project Director, Linda Arkin of The American Forum, Inc. who is responsible for the final shape of this publication. We hope this collection will meet your needs and for we welcome your comments and accounts of how the units have been used, as well as your suggestions making them more effective. Andrew E Smith President The American Forum, Inc. THE AMERICAN FORUM FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges A resource guide produced for the Democracy Education Exchange Project (DEEP) 3-5 PREFACE 7-9 TABLE OF CONTENTS 11-16 MAPS SECTION 1: PROMISES AND CHALLENGES ESSAYS 17 Overview 19-28 Marta Mikkelsen The Eastern European Democratization Process 29-36 Janet G. Vaillant The Democratization of Russia Daniel C. Waugh 37-53 The Authoritarian Politics of Central Asia Stephen E. Hanson 55-63 Why Has Post-Communist Democratization Been So Difficult? LESSONS 65-71 Eastern Europe in the 1990s (secondary) 73-76 Democracy at the Turn of the Century (secondary) 77-81 Challenge of Democracy (secondary) 83-85 Out With the Old; In With the New (secondary) 87-91 In the Bowl: Examining Corruption in Russia (secondary) 93-97 Thieves in the Cupboard (middle school) 99-103 Democratic Culture (secondary) 105-109 Pathways to Independence/Democracy (middle school) 111-112 Independence and Democratization (secondary) AMERICAN FORUM FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION 7 T 11 E AVAILABLE 8 BEST COPY SECTION 2: VOICES OF TRANSITION ESSAYS Overview 113 Democracy in Ukraine Polina Verbytska 115-119 An Armenian View Serob Khachatryan 121-122 Yveta's Story: A Czech-Roma Experience Yveta Kenety 123-128 Before and After in Azerbaijan Leyla Safarova 129-131 Power for the People or the Authorities? (Russia) P S imonenko/V. Kurkov. 133-135 The Rivers I Crossed: A Russian Memory Yegor Ivanov. 137-141 Transitions:Travel Before and After (Czech Republic) Dana Rabinakova 143 LESSONS Comparative Democracies (middle school) 145-147 Constructing a Life (middle school/secondary) 149-150 Evaluating Personal Freedom (secondary school) 151-152 Historical Timelines (secondary school) 153-158 Preserving Ethnic Languages (secondary school) 159-162 Why Does a Person Need Citizenship? (secondary school) 163-167 Lawful State in Russia (secondary school) 169-172 Reforms in the Society (secondary school) 173-175 SECTION 3: FOSTERING A DEMOCRATIC DIALOGUE ESSAYS Culture of Democracy Bragaw. 177-178 Democracy as an Argument/ Democracy as a Process Hartoonian/Bragaw 179-185 A Democratic Model Robert Dahl 187 BESTCOPYAVAILABLE THE AMERICAN 9ORUM FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION 8 TABLE OF CONTENTS The Democratic Process: Promises and Challenges LESSONS 189-200 Values and Society (secondary) 203-206 Five Most Important Issues (secondary) 207-214 Voting Right/Duty? (middle school/secondary ) Average 207-214 Voting Right/Duty? (middle school/secondary ) Advanced 215-217 Each One Teach One (middle school/secondary) 219-227 Rating a Nation (middle school) 229-233 Freedom House Writer (secondary school) 235-238 Development of Democracy and Free Markets (secondary school) APPENDIX 239-240 Comprehensive Social Studies Assessment Project Standards 241-242 Portfolio Project CSSAP 243-244 C. Title VI Centers with Teacher Resources 245 D. Democracy Education Exchange Project (DEEP) 1 0 AMERICAN FORUM FOR GLO:BAL EDUCATION TH E 9