Introduction

As a mum to two boys, I am concerned about what the future holds for my children. Indeed, as a citizen of the world, I am concerned about that future for all children. The existential threats of climate change are taking hold, though their seriousness appears to be continually largely ignored by many governments, human rights are being limited across many parts of the world, and war in Europe, rising tensions in the Middle East and conflicts across the globe all cause significant concern. But also, within that is a lot of hope, amazing people doing amazing things, many of which I will touch upon in this book. Nonetheless, in this chapter I want to focus on some of the challenges facing our children as citizens of the world, particularly the conceptualisation of childhood, children's rights and how we construct notions of good citizenship within civil society.

In the evolving landscape of childhood citizenship, children are often cast as future stakeholders rather than co-citizens. The UNCRC (1989) sparked a paradigm shift, challenging us all to reconsider the complex nature of children's citizenship – whether it is a right, a developmental milestone or a response to societal demands. Thus, the debate between ‘being’ and ‘becoming’ citizens unfolds: should children be acknowledged as fully enfranchised members of society or do their rights evolve with their cognitive and emotional growth? Advocates for ‘being’ champion children as integral citizens, while the ‘becoming’ perspective recognises maturation, calling for age-sensitive participation. I, along with others, argue that striking a nuanced balance is crucial, recognising children as citizens while accommodating their unique developmental needs. Nonetheless, despite international legal frameworks, critiques highlight children's exclusion from impactful decisions, a challenge exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, character education rises in prominence, emphasising virtues through community action, while critics caution against its potential to divert attention from structural inequalities.

Amid these discussions, a stark reality emerges – threats to civil liberties and the right to protest. Many governments, including my own here in England, propose legislation limiting these rights, creating a hostile climate towards activism.