Conservative-Neoliberal alliance and popular resistance in Turkey : the uprising in Turkey

The New Right has often been defined as an amalgam of a commitment to USA driven neoliberal economics with conservative values. We saw this in England where Thatcherism took on the form of neoliberal economics, characterized by de-industrialization and the pervasive rule of the market, and old Victorian conservative values. We had the same thing under Reagan in the US and the two Bushes, the younger one foregrounding a specific form of bigoted Christian politics alongside the well established neoliberal policies. Turkey seems to be providing another manifestation of this kind of alliance under Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s AKP Party where thousands are taking to the streets to oppose the current regime of old Islamic, anti-secularist values sitting comfortably with large scale US based Neoliberal capitalism. In all cases, the violent nature of capitalism itself, and especially Neoliberal capitalism, with its history of bloodshed, well known to Turkey with its US driven 1980 coup and the 1977 May Day massacre at Taksim Square, made its presence and (in Turkey’s current situation) is making its presence felt. There has been an escalation of this in Turkey over the last few weeks. This chaptr provides a reflection on this escalation of violence and the great protests which took place against Neoliberalism at Gezi Park, Istanbul.peer-reviewe

Karl Mannheim's contributions to the development of the sociology of knowledge

Karl Mannheim's work in the area of Sociology of Knowledge is generally considered to be his greatest contribution to sociological research. In his writings on the subject, the Hungarian theorist posits that a sociology of knowledge is possible and that there exists a relationship between forms of knowledge and social structure. His major contention in this respect is that ideas relating to definitions of social reality are existentially-determined. In this paper, I shall attempt to provide an exposition of Mannheim's ideas regarding the existential determination of knowledge, taking into account: (a) the various schools of thought and social factors which influenced his thinking; (b) his interpretation of the concepts of ideology and utopia; (c) the way he sought to grapple with such pertinent issues as the validity or otherwise of existentially- determined knowledge; (d) his attempts at preventing his theory from lapsing into relativistic nihilism, and finally, (e) the various criticisms levelled at his work on the Sociology of Knowledge.peer-reviewe

Antonio Gramsci and Paulo Freire : some connections and contrasts

Antonio Gramsci (1891-1937) and Paulo Freire (1921-1997) are certainly two of the most cited figures in the debate concerning critical approaches to education. Their respective cultural and political work occurred in different contexts and at different times (Gramsci in Europe in the first part of the 20th century and Paulo Freire in Latin America, N. America, Europe and Africa in the second half of the century). Nevertheless, a whole generation of writers, positing a critical approach to education, especially those subscribing to what is commonly referred to as critical pedagogy, constantly draw on Gramsci’s and Freire’s powerful insights into the relationship between education/ cultural work and power. The two figures are often accorded iconic status inthis literature.In this paper, I shall attempt to draw theoretical and, when appropriate, biographicalconnections between the work of the two, also highlighting some obvious contrasts. In so doing,I shall reproduce key points made in my earlier published work on these two figures, notably my book length study in which I sought to derive insights from their respective writings for a process of trans-formative adult education relevant to contemporary times. In this piece, I also hope to provide fresh comparative insights not found in the earlier work.peer-reviewe

Antonio Gramsci and his relevance for the education of adults

This paper, drawing on original sources, provides an overview of and a discussion on those writings and ideas, in Antonio Gramsci's huge corpus of work, that are relevant to the education of adults. This should provide a fitting tribute to this major social theorist of the 20th century on the 70th anniversary of his death. Among the topics discussed are those of adult education for industrial democracy, adult education and cultural preparation, adult literacy, prison education, adult education and the Southern Question with specific reference to immigration, and, most important of all, adult education in the context of an intellectual and moral reform.peer-reviewe

Italian signposts for a sociologically and critically engaged pedagogy : Don Lorenzo Milani (1923-1967) and the schools of San Donato and Barbiana revisited

This paper provides a critical exposition and analysis of the work of an acclaimed Italian educator, Lorenzo Milani, and ideas that emerged from his experiences in two Tuscan localities. His work is well known in Italy and many parts of southern Europe. Despite the translations of his works into English and Spanish, in the early 1970s, and their use in sociology of education classes in the United Kingdom, he seems to have had a very limited impact on the Anglo-North American-dominated critical education field. The paper revisits his ideas, in this 90th anniversary year, indicating their contemporary relevance and the signposts they provide for a critically and sociologically engaged pedagogy.peer-reviewe

Competitiveness, diversification and the international higher education cash flow : EU’s higher education discourse amidst the challenges of globalisation

This paper focuses on the EU discourse on Higher Education and analyses thisdiscourse within the context of globalisation. Importance is attached to the issuesof lifelong learning, competitiveness, diversification, entrepreneurship, access,knowledge society, modernisation, quality assurance, innovation and creativity,governance and business–HE partnerships. The paper also provides a criticalanalysis of this discourse focusing on certain issues involved in policy borrowingand transfer, the corporatisation of HE, international competition with the USAand Asia and the implications of all these aspects of the dominant EU HE policydiscourse for HE and the public sphere. The paper seeks to tease out the tensionthat exists in the discourse between neo-liberal tenets and the idea of a SocialEurope. References throughout the paper will be made to the situation concerningHE in a variety of contexts in Europe.peer-reviewe

Teaching art appreciation at the fine arts museum

Since its official opening on the 7th May 1974, the National Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta has been regarded as one of the best sources of cultural enrichment on the island. Its contribution to the education of adults and youngsters, especially those interested in the representational arts, should indeed be considerable and local art masters in the secondary schools and higher institutions may fully avail themselves of such a source.peer-reviewe

Social democracy in a postcolonial island state : Dom Mintoff’s impact

This paper pays homage to former Maltese premier and postcolonial Maltese leader, Dom Mintoff soon after his death in August 20 2012. The pragmatic socialist politics of Dom Mintoff is exposed and the contradictions revealed. His ability as a negotiator, orator and architect of a democratic socialist politics marked by the building of a welfare state is underscored. Pugilistic and irascible, Mintoff is presented warts and all as a statesman and a political figure of international acclaim.peer-reviewe

"In and against the state" : Gramsci, war of position, and adult education

This paper focuses on the way a state-funded university, as an important institution of civil society, consolidates existing hegemonic arrangements and, at the same time, offers spaces wherein these arrangements can be contested. Using ethnographic data culled from structured and semi-structured interviews as well as other appropriate documentation, the author highlights some of the challenges and contradictions of a university-based workers' education institute advocating for social change "in and against the state." The key concept from Gramsci that reverberates throughout the essay is that of "war of position."peer-reviewe

Learning with adults : the role of practice in the formation of adults

This article provides ruminations on the distinction between practice and praxis and identifies issues concerning the conventional and problematic practitioner-academic divide in the field of adult education. It draws primarily from the experience of practitioners in NGOs when confronting the aforementioned issues.It highlights common misconceptions regarding one's view of the other and suggest a way of out of this unhealthy dichotomy.peer-reviewe