THE ASPIRATIONS AND THE INCLUSIVE SOCIAL TENDENCIES OF CIVIC CULTURE IN THE ERA OF GLOBALIZATION A NEW PARADIGM: “CIVIC SOCIOLOGY” – EPISTEMOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL PREMISES

In a world in which the process of globalisation continually increases - this being an aspect felt by all its actors - in which citizenship gets new super-national dimensions, the multidimensional exploration of civic culture and of its integrative tendencies becomes much more important.
Sociological studies prove that in the societies in which there are many marginalized categories, groups and individuals, democracy is in danger. On the contrary, democracy is consolidated in the societies which develop their own social-inclusive capacities. The degree of social inclusion does not depend only on the existence of democratic institutions but also on the predominance of a participatory political culture, and that is a civic culture.
The aspiration and the integrative tendency of civic culture manifest not only at national level, but also at international level. Today, the increase in number and diversity of the actors on the scene of the world demands with more acuity the development of a political culture capable to give meaning and to support the process of conciliation, harmonization and international community solidarity. Recent sociological studies infirm Norbert Elias’ hypothesis according to which the multiplication and the complicate “interdependent connexions” established generate a mechanical tendency towards the integration and even unification of the international communities. One has noticed that the mentioned interdependent relations lead to stable integration forms only if they are supported by an appropriate axiological-normative system: values, beliefs, democratic procedures. In other words, European integration must be supported by a political culture founded on knowledge, communication, civic involvement and tolerance.
Under these circumstances, the political socialization agents – school also – are faced with a new challenge: finding the most efficient strategies for a multidimensional development of culture in the service of democratic citizenship.
In Romania, teaching education and civic culture in primary, secondary and high school – along with other educational strategies, tries to answer such challenges.
In universities there is no discipline meant to support such an objective. This is why I consider it necessary to explore the scientific premises for making a new paradigm, a new discipline in universities: “Civic Sociology”.