Anarchism and Education: A Philosophical Perspective

Exploring the neglected tradition of anarchist education, this book shows how the ideas traditionally associated with anarchism can lend a valuable perspective to philosophical debates on education, and offer a motivating vision for teachers and educational policy makers. In focusing on the educational ideas associated with social anarchists, Judith Suissa provides a detailed account of the central features of anarchist thought, dispelling some common misconceptions about anarchism and demonstrating how a failure to appreciate the crucial role of education in anarchist theory is often responsible for the dismissal of anarchism as a coherent position by both academics and the general public. The book also establishes that anarchist education is a distinct tradition that differs in important respects form libertarian or child-centered education, with which it is often mistakenly conflated. Anarchism and Educationoffers an historical account of anarchist ideas and experiments, and situates these inthe framework of contemporary debates in the philosophy of education and political philosophy. Anarchism is compared with Liberal and Marxist traditions, with particular emphasis on the concept of human nature, which, it is argued, is the key to grasping the role of education in anarchist thought, and on the notion of utopianism. The relationship between anarchist ideas and issues of pedagogy, school climate, curriculum and policy are explored, leading to a broad discussion of the political and social context of educational ideas. The perspective arising from this account is used to offer a trenchant critique of some current trends in educational theory and policy, such as calls for free markets in educational provision.

Judith Suissa is a Research Fellow at The Institute of Education, the University of London.