About

The Institute of Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy is an intensive, 8-day, intensive seminar and residential retreat—bringing together practitioners, graduate students, and faculty from around the world, and from diverse professions and fields of study. Participants stay in the same hotel and participate in workshops, planning sessions, and social events all day and evening throughout the retreat. 

2023 Location- James Madison Center for Civic Engagement, James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA, USA

2022 - Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany
2019 - Bavaria, Germany
2018 - Bavaria, Germany
          - Tufts University, Medford, MA
2017 - Chernivtsi University, Ukraine
          - Tufts University, Medford, MA
2016 - Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany
          - Tufts University, Medford, MA
2015 - Chernivtsi University, Ukraine
          - Tufts University, Medford, MA
2014 - Tufts University, Medford, MA
​2013 - Tufts University, Medford, MA
​2012 - Tufts University, Medford, MA
​2011 - Tufts University, Medford, MA
​2010 - Tufts University, Medford, MA
​2009 - Tufts University, Medford, MA

Institute of Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy

ICSLD - Sept 3-10, 2023

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​Objectives and Topics

​The ICSLD deals with issues related to the development of civic society, the role of the individual/citizen in society, the role of education in promoting democracy, the role of institutions in the development of a civic society, and questions related to the ethical foundation of civic issues in a (democratic) society. The following topics are examined in international and comparative perspectives. 

The ICSLD engages participants in challenging discussions such as: 
• What kinds of citizens do democracies need? 
• What do citizens need to know and be able to do in order to participate effectively in democratic society?
• What practices and institutional structures promote effective adult civic learning?
• What ought to be the relationships among empirical evidence, ethics, and strategy? 
• How can we learn from influential theorists and practitioners at important turning points in history?
 
The Institute of Civic Studies and Learning for Democracy is a continuation of the Summer Institute of Civic Studies, which was organized annually by Peter Levine, Karol Sołtan, and Tetyana Hoggan-Kloubert from 2015-2019 (and at Tufts University 2009-2018). ​