Henri Lefebvre and Education: Space, history, theory [Paperback]

During his lifetime Henri Lefebvre (1901-1991) was renowned in France as a philosopher, sociologist and activist. Although he published more than 70 books, few were available in English until The Production of Space was translated in 1991. While this work - often associated with geography - has influenced educational theorys spatial turn, educationalists have yet to consider Lefebvres work more broadly.

This book engages in an educational reading of the selection of Lefebvres work that is available in English translation. After introducing Lefebvres life and works, the book experiments with his concepts and methods in a series of five spatial histories of educational theories. In addition to The Production of Space, these studies develop themes from Lefebvres other translated works: Rhythmanalysis, The Explosion, the three volumes of Critique of Everyday Life and a range of his writings on cities, Marxism, technology and the bureaucratic state. In the course of these inquiries, Lefebvres own passionate interest in education is uncovered: his critiques of bureaucratised schooling and universities, the analytic concepts he devised to study educational phenomena, and his educational methods.

Throughout the book Middleton demonstrates how Lefebvres conceptual and methodological tools can enhance the understanding of the spatiotemporal location of educational philosophy and theory. Bridging disciplinary divides, it will be key reading for researchers and academics studying the philosophy, sociology and history of education, as well as those working in fields beyond education including geography, history, cultural studies and sociology.