Constructing citizenship: Comparing the views of students in Australia, Hong Kong and the United States

This article examines concepts of citizenship among students in Australia, Hong Kong, and the U.S. and what their notions of a good citizen are. Ideas of citizenship vary from rights-based concerns and passivism to expectations of participation and performance. These notions vary depending on democratic ideals, multiculturalism in societies, and social inclusion. Students in the study were directly asked questions related to their views and attitudes and, while the study yielded data, it was determined that concepts of citizenship cannot be simplified due to their complexity and unpredictability. The article also discusses the differences between the cultures of the student groups, their civic education and voting habits, and the methods of the study and analysis. Copyright © 2008 The Comparative and International Education Society.