Children’s associative spaces and social pedagogy

At earlier points in this book the case for democracy not merely as an electoral system but as a fundamental social value for human equality, mutuality and social solidarity has been made. This chapter explores the application of democratic principles to children’s services by constructing them as children’s spaces, with children in democratic association with other children and with adults. These ideas are to be found in movements for radical education and in various youth movements, including the Kinderrepubliken of Germany.