Democracy has relied upon debate to empower citizens to greater knowledge to spreading that knowledge to fellow citizens as well as to participation in the democratic process itself. Debate offers preparation for leadership. The fundamental requirement of all leaders in any position is to provide direction and be able to explain why that direction is needed. Debate offers training in argumentation. From its earliest beginnings to today, debate has been the best practice for argumentation.
Debate provides for investigation and intensive analysis of significant contemporary problems.
While education in general might only touch upon various recent issues, debate topics cover ground students may never discuss and in much greater depth than most classes will allow. Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Syria, North Korea. Debate develops proficiency in critical thinking. A number of studies have investigated whether college courses in argumentation and debate improve critical thinking. One researcher, Kent R. Colbert, found that, after a year's participation in either CEDA or NDT debate, the debaters significantly outscored nondebaters on critical-thinking tests.