Gramsci and Educational Thought

Italian–born Antonio Gramsci (1891–1937), who believed that education, viewed in its broader contexts, was central to the workings of cultural hegemony, has achieved near iconic status in many parts of the world. Gramsci and Educational Thought pays tribute to the educational influence of this great social thinker and political theorist of the twentieth century. Reflecting Gramsci’s growing international stature, contributions to this volume are drawn from around the world. Scholars and specialists from Brazil, Canada, Germany, Malta, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States tackle a wide range of issues relating to Gramsci’s educational thought. Topics addressed include political education in a political party context, adult education, education and the ‘philosophy of praxis’, Idealist philosopher Giovanni Gentile and education, Global English, language and education, schooling, feminism, community education, and education and social work. Gramsci and Educational Thought features a rich and varied compendium of writings that contribute to the growing international literature on the relevance and highly original educational thinking of Antonio Gramsci.

Notes on Contributors. Foreword (Michael A. Peters, University of Illinois). Introduction: Antonio Gramsci and Educational Thought (Peter Mayo, University of Malta). 1. A Brief Commentary on the Hegelian–Marxist Origins of Gramsci′s ′Philosophy of Praxis′ (Debbie J Hill, University of Waikato). 2. Antonio Gramsci and his Relevance for the Education of Adults (Peter Mayo, University of Malta). 3. The Revolutionary Party in Gramsci′s Pre–Prison Educational and Political Theory and Practice (John D. Holst, University of St. Thomas). 4. Introducing Giovanni Gentile, the ′Philosopher of Fascism′ (Thomas Clayton, University of Kentucky). 5. Global English, Hegemony and Education: Lessons from Gramsci (Peter Ives, University of Winnipeg). 6. Antonio Gramsci and Feminism: The elusive nature of power (Margaret Ledwith, Cumbria University). 7. Towards a Political Theory of Social Work and Education (Translated by Florian Sichling with editing by Peter Mayo, Uwe Hirschfeld, Protestant University of Applied Science in Social Work, Dresden). 8. Gramscian Thought and Brazilian Education (Rosemary Dore, Federal University of Minais Gerais). Index.

Peter Mayo is Professor of Adult Education and Sociology of Education and Head, Department of Education Studies, Faculty of Education, University of Malta. He is the author of several books, including Gramsci, Freire and Adult Education (1999) and Liberating Praxis: Paulo Freire’s Legacy for Radical Education and Politics, which won a 2005 AESA Critics Choice Award.

"Overall, and despite its somewhat modest length (of just over 150 pages), Gramsci and Educational Thought is a commendable and scholarly collection." (Philosophy in Review, 1 December 2011)