Revolutionary Social Transformation: Democratic Hopes, Political Possibilities and Critical Education [Hardcover]

Revolutionary Social Transformationfocuses on the visions and analysis culled from the writings of Karl Marx, Paulo Freire, and Antonio Gramsci. Marx's theory of critical praxis and his dialectical conceptualization of capitalism are discussed together with Freire's and Gramsci's ideas. The author suggests that these are necessary ingredients for authentic social transformation as well as a basis for rekindling hope for a veritable democratic future.

The author employs both a language of critique and a language of possibility to argue that the process of social transformation must be inherently educational. Social transformation begins in prefigurative, preparatory projects and continues even after the creation of a new social formation. She also argues that Marx's materialist theory of consciousnesshis theory of critical praxisinforms the thinking of both Freire and Gramsci. The ideas of Freire and Gramsci together with Marx's dialectical conceptualization of capitalism provide essential ingredients for the type of critical theory of educational praxis necessary for authentic social transformation. These ingredients also indicate how local transformative efforts can be linked to the global project for social transformation and ultimately the ending of all oppression.

Preface by Peter McLaren
Introduction by Henry A. Giroux
Introduction: Rationale and Orientation
The Vision
Consciousness
Dialectical Conceptualization: Towards a Dialectical Understanding of Capitalism
Education and Social Transformation: The Ideas of Freire and Gramsci
More on Visions: Re-Creating Our Concepts of Democracy, Truth, and Equality
Further Readings
Index