The Debate Methodology for Civic Education: Efficacy and Impact on the Development of Citizenship Competencies

Abstract

This article summarizes a 2024 Sapienza University doctoral thesis on using Debate to teach Civic Education. Addressing challenges posed by Law 92/2019, the study examines how this classical, methodology-based practice fosters critical thinking, logic, and citizenship skills. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research includes a survey of expert teachers from the Società Nazionale Debate Italia (Study 1) and a longitudinal case study (2021–2023) at a Roman school (Study 2). The findings highlight Debate as an effective tool for overcoming implementation barriers and enhancing essential soft skills in modern educational settings.