Gramsci and Educational Thought

Through a series of writings from international scholars, Gramsci and Educational Thought pays tribute to the educational influence of Antonio Gramsci, considered one of the greatest social thinkers and political theorists of the 20th century.

• Represents sound social theory and a broad application and reinvention of Gramsci’s ideas
• Covers important areas such as language and education, community education, and social work education
• Features perspectives from different geographical contexts

Notes on Contributors vii

Foreword
Michael A. Peters ix

Introduction: Antonio Gramsci and Educational Thought 1
Peter Mayo

1 A Brief Commentary on the Hegelian-Marxist Origins of Gramsci’s ‘Philosophy of Praxis’ 5
Deb J. Hill

2 Antonio Gramsci and his Relevance to the Education of Adults 21
Peter Mayo

3 The Revolutionary Party in Gramsci’s Pre-Prison Educational and Political Theory and Practice 38
John D. Holst

4 Introducing Giovanni Gentile, the ‘Philosopher of Fascism’ 57
Thomas Clayton

5 Global English, Hegemony and Education: Lessons from Gramsci 78
Peter Ives

6 Antonio Gramsci and Feminism: The elusive nature of power 100
Margaret Ledwith

7 Towards a Political Theory of Social Work and Education (Translated by Florian Sichling with Editing by Peter Mayo) 114
Uwe Hirschfeld

8 Gramscian Thought and Brazilian Education 127
Rosemary Dore Soares

Index 146

"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)

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. 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.