The Business Case for Better Civics Knowledge
It’s become clear over the past several decades that far too many Americans are uninformed and under-educated about our systems of government and governance. Measures (both government assessments and privately administered surveys and tests) designed to assess levels of civic knowledge consistently show that most Americans do not possess sufficient understanding of how American government and democracy work. At PACE, we believe engagement in republic is essential to making sure our communities and country thrive; and that belief can only be fully realized if people are informed and educated about how our representative democracy works, and how to productively and effectively engage within it.
One reason this may be is because the advancement of civic education is often viewed as the role of schools alone, rather than being viewed as a cross-sector and community responsibility. However, a new white paper from the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation and Harvard Business Review makes the business case for civic education and the role of the private sector in improving civic health in America. The business and workforce development case for corporate investment in STEM education is clear, and this report looks at creative ways the business community can lead in the prioritization and championing of civic education as well.
It was refreshing to see the Chamber’s forward-thinking and positive outlook on civics education come to life in the report, and I was eager to sit down with Michael Carney at the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation to learn more about the white paper and what they see as the opportunity and responsibility of the business sector to play a role in civic education and civic life.
Kristen Cambell: To begin, I’d love a better understanding of how and why the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation became involved in efforts to revamp civics education. What inspired this work and focus for you?
Michael Carney: As we worked on future-oriented projects it became increasingly clear that many of the challenges our nation faces, or will face down the road, stem from a lack of civic knowledge, skills or disposition. Far too many of us don’t know enough about how our democracy works or why it’s so important to be engaged in the community. At the same time, there’s an opportunity for businesses to make a big difference by supporting civics programming. The Business Case for Civics white paper is intended to elevate the issue and show the relationship between high-quality non-partisan civics education and favorable outcomes for the nation.
KC: Many businesses have become champions of STEM education because they often see direct connections to skill-building and workforce development. Do you see the same connections being true for civic education, or is there an inherently different value proposition here?
MC: There is a strong relationship between quality civics education and some of the 21st Century skills workers will need to remain competitive in a fast-changing world. But the business case for civics goes far beyond workforce development. Imagine a world with greater civility, reduced polarization, and deeper engagement. That’s not going to happen without an informed citizenry. We need a big push to educate every person in the country about how our government works, why it works that way, and the rights and responsibilities that come with being an American.
KC: How would you like to see the private sector engage in and become involved with civic education efforts? What do you think are the barriers to making that possible?
MC: The biggest barrier is awareness. The state of our civic health is a source of constant concern, yet few people see the links between the quality civics programming and positive societal changes like decreased polarization. Over the long haul, we’d like to see businesses deepen their commitment to community-based civics education. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here, but we believe in business as a force for positive change, so it will be essential that companies of all sizes find ways to prioritize this important issue in the communities where they do business.
KC: There’s a lot of talk about America’s polarization problem and lack of tolerance and civility in society. The paper suggests civic education can be a way to address these challenges, and that it’s part of what makes a unique case to businesses for civic education. Can you unpack that for us a little here?
MC: We’re not academics, but the political science literature has shown for many years that increased political knowledge is associated with favorable outcomes such as reduced polarization and increased tolerance. There are broad benefits to communities where citizens are more active and informed in their governance. This resonates with businesses because many of them are wrestling with the very real manifestation of these issues in their daily operations. Our perspective is that civics is one way to help solve some of these seemingly intractable problems.
KC: One of the most interesting quotes from the paper was from Margaret Spellings, the Secretary of Education in the Bush administration and the current CEO of Texas 2036. She said, “Capitalism and democracy and civics are all kissing cousins.” How do you see these things connected in the context of business’ role in civic life, and how should the connections be considered at a time that capitalism and democracy are both being deeply interrogated?
MC: I like your use of the phrase “deeply interrogated.” If that’s what happening, then we will all be happy with the outcome, because any close examination of our political and economic systems will show that these novel approaches to organizing society and markets helped created the most prosperous nation in history. When you zoom in on civics, there are two imperatives. One is that business leaders recognize the importance of civics to the long-term health of companies and communities. The other is that civics groups deepen their engagement with the business community beyond requests for financial support.
KC: Collaboration, communication, diversity and inclusion, emotional intelligence, and community engagement were all common themes that arose throughout the paper as strategies that successfully foster bridge-building and strengthen our democracy. Of these strategies, which of these do you believe can best be successfully replicated in an educational setting? Which will make the biggest impact in improving civics education?
MC: My first instinct was to say that all of them are equally important, but after reflection I’d have to put greater weight on collaboration. These are societal problems that require societal solutions. It’s not fair to place the entire burden for civics education on teachers, nor is it reasonable for anyone to expect that civics non-profits alone are going to reverse decades of deprioritization. We have millions of businesses in this country, most of which are small- or mid-sized enterprises. But regardless of size, each of these firms has an interest in the long-term health of our democracy.
So, I’d challenge every person who reads this interview to take a moment to reflect on whether they’re doing enough to include businesses in their work. If not, feel free to download a copy of our white paper, The Business Case for Civics, and use it as a way to initiate a conversation with the folks on Main Street.
KC: The paper touches on how some states are making moves to improve civics education through public education requirements, though it is clear that these efforts are far from nationwide. What can businesses do to support both the governmental and non-governmental efforts to improve civics education?
MC: Right now, most civics organizations look at businesses and see a potential donation. That’s not wrong, but it’s not entirely right either. You can increase the efficacy of your work by finding novel ways to create a sense of shared purpose. One of the big questions we’re hearing from business leaders is “OK, I see the problem. What can I do?” Help them answer that question in the context of your work, their capabilities, and the needs of the communities you serve.
KC: What’s next for the Chamber Foundation in this work?
MC: We’re going to continue beating the drum for civics across the business community. We have a number of exciting follow-up projects planned for 2020, including a new report that will showcase examples of how businesses are providing non-financial support to programs or initiatives that help people acquire meaningful civic knowledge and skills. The goal is to show companies what others are doing in the hope that they’ll learn from one another. (Please reach out to us via email at foundation@uschamber.com if you’d like to recommend a specific company for us to consider in the report.)
Mike Carney is a senior vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps businesses do good, do well, and prepare for the future. He is spearheading the Foundation’s efforts to educate the private sector about the importance of civic knowledge and skills to the nation.
