Introduction Regionalism and citizenship education – new identities and new commitments?

This introduction presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is interested in the social aspect of regional groupings, particularly on how citizenship education fares in regional contexts. Each geographic area is looking to integration as a modality for regional advancement in the twenty-first century, but with different trajectories and within distinctive contexts. Career and economic success and productive participation in the European society would not be possible without exhibiting the thinking and actions expected of a European citizen, therefore education in civic and democratic citizenship must be obtained. Mascherini and Hoskins defined active citizenship in the European context as follows:Active Citizenship is a term used within European policy making to denote particular forms of participation which should be promoted within Europe in order to ensure the continuation of participatory and representative democracy, to reduce the gap between citizens and governing institutions and to enhance social cohesion.