ABSTRACT
It is commonplace to consider citizenship narrowly within the context of the nation state: citizenship is commonly conceptualised as the identity of an individual bounded by national frontiers. However, it is extremely important to acknowledge that nation states, as human artefacts, have a remarkably short history. Their frontiers change as a result of alliances, wars and agreements. Changes are made to their names often at times of major ideological and constitutional shifts. Further, the internal authority and power of nation states are being weakened as a consequence of new international trade relationships, ecological trends and the modernisation of telecommunications. These changes are important not only because they alter definitions of citizenship but also because they provide the background against which curriculum changes occur. They impact on both the place of geography education in school curricula and the content and teaching methods of school geography.
