Journal of International Social Studies, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2014, 114.


Journal of International Social Studies, Vol. 4, No. 1, 2014, 114. 
 
Social Justice Perspectives, Spring 2014 

Editor’s Message 

Gloria T. Alter 

DePaul University-Lincoln Park 

The authors, Matthew Knoester and Wangari P. Gichiru remind us that our teaching about 
democracy can be a narrow study when we do not address global perspectives, current struggles for 
democracy around the world, or the “competing definitions of democracy.” In the U.S. in particular, 
the changing landscape of our “democracy” deserves an in-depth critical analysis (e.g., the role of 
money in politics, the protection of minority rights, the media’s influence in politics, and how we 
teach about democratic participation, etc.). 

 

Dr. Wangari Gichiru brings her background of participation in the democratic movement in Kenya to 
this essay. She is an Assistant Professor of Education at Central Connecticut State University. Dr. 
Matthew Knoester is an Assistant Professor of Education at the University of Evansville. Both 
received their Ph.D.’s at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Dr. Knoester’s edited book, 
International Struggles for Critical Democratic Education, (Peter Lang), containing a chapter by Dr. 
Gichiru, received a Critic’s Choice Book Award from AESA. 

 

Corresponding author email: galter9@comcast.net 
©2012/2015 International Assembly Journal of International Social Studies  
Website: http://www.iajiss.org  ISSN: 2327-3585   
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