Title: Towards a Democratic Culture - Tolerance
Country: Bolivia
Authors: International Republican Institute
CategoryTheoretical/Conceptual/Propositional Studies
Date of Publication: 2006
Keywords: citizenship, democracy, tolerance
Resource Language(s): Spanish
Pages: 23
Level of Education: Primary and Secondary Schools
Publisher: International Republican Institute
Access: Access to this document can be obtained through the International Republican Institute.
Abstract: This guide defines what tolerance means in a society characterized by a wide range of cultural and linguistic differences. It also considers the particularities of gender, age, socioeconomic condition, and religion. It offers recommendations for the development of curriculum and instruction in civic education at the primary- and secondary-school levels. Tolerance includes respecting beliefs, behaviors, and differences in opinion. These, in turn, build the foundation for recognizing that cultural pluralism allows for peaceful relations between individuals. When one practices tolerance in the family, at school, in an organization, and within the community, this generates open and respectful dialog that suppresses violence, injustice, and marginalization, which result in exclusion. In a multiethnic and multicultural context, it is important for people to recognize varieties of beliefs, practices, and opinions. This enables them to avoid the dangers that intolerance brings to social harmony and peaceful relations.