6th Conference of the Israel Comparative Education Society  

Education Under Crisis: Challenges to Democracy

University of Haifa 

June 29, 2025

Over the past decade, a wave of changes has emerged, driving conflict and disrupting educational goals, practices, and ideologies. Mass shifts, such as increased immigration and refugees, the rise of nationalism and populism, and the threat of technology-driven occupations in the workforce have posed significant challenges to educational actors. These changes have compelled them to adopt various approaches, navigating universal ideals and social justice considerations, as well as balancing between segregative and inclusive education, private and public schooling, and specialized versus general learning.

These educational trajectories impact fundamental facets of democracy. Thus, questions of justice and equity, identity politics, the instruction of critical thinking, fostering civic responsibility, youth activism and more, are all offshoots of contemporary changes. In the conference, we aim to explore the impact of these externally driven changes on educational actors, practice and institutions. 

Potential panel, roundtable, and paper proposals may address, but should not be limited to, the following themes:

• Erosion of Democratic Values in Educational agencies

• Youth civil participation amid conflict and war

• School Types amid ethnocentrism in times of polycrisis

• Dialogue and tolerance education under uncertainty and risk

• Child and Youth rights in times of crisis

• Epistemological crisis: Sourcing and (Post) Truths in contemporary society

• Religious Learning in a post secular society

• Educational Actors and the Climate Crisis: Challenges, Approaches, and Courses of Action

• Climate change in time of crisis 

• Critical education in times of war

• Policies impeding educational civil society initiatives

• Teaching Practices in Diverse Classrooms During Wartime

Submission Deadline: 2.4.2025 | Notification of Acceptances: 1.5.2025