Rethinking Educational Purpose: The Socialist Challenge

In this essay Malott makes a case for a Marxist reading of education's role in expanding and reproducing capitalist societies. In the process he challenges the proposition that cognitive capitalism has fundamentally transformed the way in which capitalism operates. That is, rather than being gu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal for critical education policy studies Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 160 - 182
Main Author Malott, Curry
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Institute for Education Policy Studies 01.10.2012
Subjects
Conflict
Culture
Educational Objectives
Educational Theories
Labor Force
Marxian Analysis
Neoliberalism
Ownership
Role of Education
Social Systems
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Summary:In this essay Malott makes a case for a Marxist reading of education's role in expanding and reproducing capitalist societies. In the process he challenges the proposition that cognitive capitalism has fundamentally transformed the way in which capitalism operates. That is, rather than being guided by an internal capitalist logic, proponents of cognitive capitalism argue it is the autonomous actions of a fragmented, global labor force that has forced capital to shift its paradigm of social relations. In making his case Malott also rejects the neo-Marxist focus on culture as the primary cite of anti-capitalist struggle. A focus on private property, Malott contends, remains the center of capitalist power and should therefore be an important aspect of anti-capitalist resistance. Ultimately, Malott argues for a socialist pedagogy designed to foster the critical, class-consciousness needed for a democratic, collective struggle against an out-of-control global capitalist system.
ISSN:1740-2743