World Scouting: Educating for Global Citizenship by Eduard Vallory (review)

Eduard Vallory attempts to capture the “magic” of scouting. He is not only referring to the joy that can be attained through the practice of scouting, but also the potential of scouting to enhance the global community. Although popularly associated with merit badges and cookies, Vallory points out that scouting is the “largest educational movement in the world, comprising 30 million children and youth” in “around 165 countries of the five continents” (1). Focusing on the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts (WAGGGS), he draws on documents such as the 1967 “Report on World Scouting” by Dr. Laszlo Nagy, as well as statistics of the World Scout Bureau since the 1920s and the monthly reports of the WOSM secretary general between 1988 and 2004. Vallory explains how Robert Baden-Powell’s book, Scouting for Boys, became a major and exemplary force in creating “globally educated citizens.” He argues that scouting has been and continues to be a significant educational movement that is worthy of academic inquiry because of its unique ability to teach citizenship and unite individuals with diverse backgrounds at the local, national, and global levels.

The book is divided into three main sections: history, purpose/meaning, and “glocal” citizenship. The first chapter traces the history of scouting from its origins in 1907 with Robert Baden-Powell and Scouting for Boys to the thriving scouting culture of the 2000s. He places scouting in historical context, contributing its early success and popularity to major trends of the time, including imperialism, environmentalism, and religious moralism, as well as to the growing recognition of youth as a life stage. By the end of the 1920s, Baden-Powell’s book and its corresponding movement had reached twenty-six countries. Vallory shows how World War I, World War II, and the cold war shaped the movement, dispelling the alleged connection between scouting and fascism and instead expounding its role in decolonization and nation building. Trends in growth and population groups are clearly presented in charts at the end of this chapter. He uses these figures to demonstrate scouting’s increasing global presence, with scouting organizations active in eighty-three percent of all independent countries in 2003.

In his second chapter, Vallory explains how the ideals of scouting are actually applied as an educational movement across the world. While offering fun and adventure, scouting also provides young people with a civic education—encouraging their development as responsible individuals and active participants in their local, national, and international communities. He defines scouting as “an educational movement for and of young people, self-governed; independent and nonpartisan; voluntary; and open to all” (54). He then describes each of these elements, explaining how scouting differs from other civil organizations. Although national associations may diverge in approaches and histories, they all share these common characteristics. When splits have occurred, the three main causes tended to be religion, culture, and organizational tradition.

According to Vallory, scholars have claimed that scouting could not combine both nationalism and global citizenship. He contests this notion in his third chapter, arguing that scouting can be “glocal.” By this he means scouting can combine “local rooting, national belonging, and global commitment” (152). Vallory provides examples of WOSM and WAGGS joining with international organizations such as the United Nations. While the movement encourages the development of an individual, it also strives to promote awareness of larger issues such as peace, human rights, and community development at the local, national, and global levels. Because of its pervasive presence, scouting has the potential to cultivate understanding and appreciation among diverse cultures in ways that other movements cannot.

The book’s greatest strength is also its greatest weakness. By trying to be comprehensive and encompass scouting worldwide, Vallory often leaves the reader wanting more details and further analysis. Nonetheless, this concise and informative volume proves that scouting can be a serious academic subject, revealing much about changing societal values in an increasingly globalized world...