Abstract
This paper examines the issue of how social studies curriculums can help teach students to become citizens who promote social cohesion in a plural society by focusing on "the respect for deep diversity" and "the accommodation of diversity". As a case study, this paper analyzes the social studies curriculums of Alberta, Canada since it is the only province that explicitly includes curriculums that address "diversity" and "social cohesion" in its overall social studies goals. The movement of people in the current age of globalization has significantly increased diversity, especially at the societal level. As a result, societies must be willing to accept people from a wide array of cultures and backgrounds in order to progress and coexist peacefully. This is one of the keystones for maintaining a peaceful and democratic society. Social cohesion, in this case, can become one of the possible solutions for dealing with this particular issue. However, the term "social cohesion" could be used simply as a synonym for assimilation. Therefore, this study demonstrates "the respect for deep diversity" and "the accommodation of diversity" as key aspects for fostering social cohesion in a plural and democratic society. Then, it analyzes the social studies curriculums of Alberta by focusing on these key aspects. Finally, this paper discusses the construction of curriculums that teach students to develop the willingness and attitude toward addressing such aspects of social cohesion.
