From Slavery to Citizenship

Citizenship is not a spectator sport; it is all about engagement. This book is part of a bigger picture - a development process which will enable us gain more control over our own lives and to participate in decisions about the future direction of society and the organisations we are involved in. From Slavery to Citizenship is a resource for individual reading and cross-reference that will also be valuable for teaching and learning. This book is unusual in suggesting that slavery is not a remote historical phenomenon, but a fundamental component of our present. People have been slaves in the past and some people are enslaved today. The subject of slavery is highly charged with emotion. From Slavery to Citizenship seeks to facilitate dialogue and to bridge gaps. This is not easy as people have been speaking different languages and working from diverse sets of assumptions. A first step is to listen and to learn from differences. In the book, a single author's voice brings together contributions from major public figures and respected thinkers. Within a rich tapestry of perspectives, there is no single line of argument, or one overall conclusion. The intention is to inform debate with reflections from such diverse key figures as Nelson Mandela, Dalai Lama, Kofi Annan and Chris Patten. After reading the book, you are unlikely to conclude that all of the contributors have agreed, but you will find that they give you a starting point from which to reflect and begin discussion, as well as the tools to engage in active citizenship. With a companion web site for ongoing debate and supplementary reading and teaching materials, this is an interactive project which goes much further than the pages of the book.Ennals, Richard is the author of 'From Slavery to Citizenship ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780470028322 and ISBN 0470028327.