The significance of education for a democratic society
Column
“The role of higher education as a defender of democratic discourse is a thorn in the side of anti-democratic forces,” says to Mats Målqvist, Vice-Dean for First and Second Cycle Education at the Faculty of Medicine.
We live in uncertain times when much is at stake. A report from the University of Gothenburg earlier this month shows that democracy is in decline worldwide. The report shows that over 70% of the world’s population now lives in non-democratic societies, compared to 50% ten years ago.
Autocratic tendencies are seen in many countries, from India to West Africa to our neighbours in Eastern Europe. “Even in Sweden, the warning lights are flashing,” the researchers from Gothenburg write in DN Debatt (6 March). With draconian cutbacks in support for civil society, tendencies towards increased control of independent research and significantly reduced funding for public education, the democratic space is eroding.
The role of education
Education and independent academia play a central role in a democratic society. Education is not only about acquiring knowledge and skills. It is also about having the ability to apply and understand various perspectives, respecting those with different opinions and engaging in dialogue based on a mutual desire to understand each other.
The increasing polarisation we see in the world, as well as in Sweden, is a trend in the opposite direction. This is where education at all levels, and perhaps especially in higher education, becomes vital for a democratic society. Therefore, the role of higher education as a defender of democratic discourse is a thorn in the side of anti-democratic forces, and with increasing polarisation, we can expect more challenges to academic freedom.
Internationalisation and interdisciplinarity
So, what can we do to strengthen democracy? One essential step is to ensure that all students are trained in and given the opportunity for perspective-taking. This can be achieved, for example, through internationalisation or interdisciplinarity. An internationalised education lifts your gaze from your own context, stimulates reflection and provides new perspectives.
Introducing or incorporating a global perspective into teaching not only helps to gain a better understanding of the bigger picture, but also trains and fosters an understanding that there are multiple ways of looking at things. The same goes for interdisciplinarity, which, by its nature, is based on applying different perspectives to a problem or phenomenon. Therefore, promoting internationalisation and interdisciplinarity in education and elevating their status not only increases the quality of education, but also contributes to the defence of the democratic society, something ever more important in uncertain and troubled times.
Mats Målqvist, Vice-Dean for First and Second Cycle Education at the Faculty of Medicine
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