EPAT: Asian perspectives on democratic values: Philosophical reflections and educational implications

Democratic values such as respect, humility, equality, and responsibility are pivotal in shaping civic life and fostering social cohesion. While these values are often discussed in a Western context, their interpretation and application within Asian philosophical traditions present a rich and nuanced landscape worthy of exploration. This special issue seeks to delve into how concepts rooted in philosophies such as Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism inform the understanding and cultivation of democratic values in educational settings across Asia.

Asian philosophical traditions offer unique perspectives that can both complement and challenge conventional Western notions of democracy. For instance, Confucianism emphasizes relational ethics, collective harmony, and the importance of moral education in developing virtuous citizens. In this framework, democratic values are not merely individualistic ideals but are interwoven with social responsibilities and communal well-being. Similarly, Buddhist teachings on compassion and mindfulness encourage a deeper understanding of equality and the common good, fostering a sense of interconnectedness among individuals in society. These philosophical underpinnings provide a rich foundation for rethinking how democratic values are conceptualized and implemented in educational practices.

Despite the significance of these traditions, scholarly discourse on the intersection of Asian philosophies and democratic education remains limited. This special issue aims to fill this gap by inviting contributions that explore the ways in which Asian philosophical frameworks can inform the cultivation of democratic values in education. We seek to examine how educators can draw upon these rich traditions to create pedagogical practices that resonate with students and communities, fostering a deeper commitment to democratic ideals.

Potential contributions may include, but are not limited to, the following themes:

Asian Philosophical Foundations of Democratic Values: Exploring how Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist, and other Asian philosophies conceptualize democratic values and their relevance in contemporary educational contexts. How can these philosophical traditions provide alternative frameworks for understanding democracy that are rooted in Asian cultural contexts?
Educational Implications of Asian Philosophies on Democratic Values: Exploring how Asian philosophical traditions can be critically (re)interpreted and applied to promote civic engagement and critical thinking in both formal and informal educational contexts. How might educators utilize the rich insights of Asian philosophies—such as Confucian moral cultivation, Buddhist mindfulness and compassion, or Daoist harmony and balance—to encourage students to thoughtfully and critically engage with democratic values?
Critical reflection on Asian Perspectives on Democratic Values: Critical reflecting on Asian perspectives on democratic values, questioning how these traditions (re)interpret, contest, or complicate democratic ideas, and thus providing a nuance picture about which components of which traditions have potential to advance or risk impede democratic values. What philosophical reflections are needed to critically analyze tensions or limitations within Asian philosophies regarding democracy, so that their implications for educational theory and practice can be reconsidered.
By focusing on these themes, this special issue aims to illuminate the complex interplay between Asian philosophical traditions and democratic education. We hope to inspire educators and scholars to engage critically with the ways in which these philosophies can enrich our understanding of democracy and contribute to the development of a more inclusive and culturally relevant approach to democratic values in education. Ultimately, this exploration emphasizes that cultivating democratic values is not just an educational imperative but a philosophical endeavor that requires a deep engagement with the rich intellectual traditions of Asia.

Submission Instructions
Abstracts (800-1000 words) should be prepared for blind review and sent to Jason Cong Lin (jclin@eduhk.hk) or Liz Jackson (lizj@hku.hk). All submissions must be original and not under consideration elsewhere.

Invited authors will subsequently be invited to submit a full paper (6000 words). Submissions will be subject to the normal Educational Philosophy and Theory review process. Please ensure that your paper follows the APA referencing style for all references and citations.