Abstract

This thesis concerns itself with civic education, specifically, the creation and education of citizens in a liberal democratic society, in the modern context of the"post-9/11 security state". This thesis explores some of the issues that threaten the proper democratic education of young people, using the example of Omar Khadr as a case study and point of reference. This thesis argues that the security state provides a dual pedagogical function, acting in the broad public sphere and also in the classroom, and the specific lessons of this pedagogy are a cause for concern, especially in regard to the racialization of Muslims and their internment and torture. Civic education models such as patriotism and citizenship as shared fate are considered as possible models for providing young people with the civic skills they need to become citizens capable of addressing and, hopefully, redressing these problems.