ABSTRACT
This paper examines the issue of political education for democracy in relation to Britain as a multiethnic society. It begins by arguing that Britain is not a fully democratic country. In particular, racism among white power holders, which is predominantly directed at "black" people of Asian or Afro-Caribbean origin, and that is essentially anti-democratic, still permeates most British social and political institutions. The social institution with which this paper is most concerned-the school-presently does little to enhance democracy, and is a factor in the reproduction of racism. Political education, it is argued, can make a significant contribution to the development of more democratic norms among all young people, but this is most important for young white people who, as the children of the politically dominant ethnic group, must learn genuinely to value equal rights for all citizens. However, the British government now seems implacably opposed to such education, and it is difficult to be optimistic about the future.
