Overview
This lecture explores how Marxist theory evolved from economic class struggle to modern identity politics, especially its influence on education through critical pedagogy.
Marxism: Ethics and Truth
- Marxism's central ethic and definition of truth is "that which advances the revolution is good and true."
- Actions are judged solely by whether they support Marxist revolutionary aims; everything else is considered unethical or false.
- Class struggle (oppressor vs. oppressed) is seen as the main driver of history in Marxist theory.
Evolution from Economics to Identity
- Marx argued human nature is shaped by economic conditions and private property causes individualism.
- Historical class conflicts include lord vs. serf, slaveholder vs. slave, bourgeoisie vs. proletariat, etc.
- As economic conditions stabilized in developed countries, Marxists looked for new forms of "oppression."
- Neo-Marxists like Herbert Marcuse suggested new revolutionary groups: feminists, racial minorities, sexual minorities, etc.
- Identity politics emerged by redefining oppression through categories like race, gender, and sexuality, not just class.
Intersectionality and Power Consolidation
- Intersectionality combines different identity struggles (race, gender, sexuality) into one revolutionary movement.
- This allows for rapid shifts in focus (e.g., from race to gender), maintaining the revolutionary narrative.
- Leftist organizations can be destabilized by accusations of failing to address all forms of oppression, leading to power consolidation.
Marxism's Influence on Education: Critical Pedagogy
- Paulo Freire's "education for liberation" aimed to raise critical consciousness among oppressed groups.
- Freire's method engaged students by connecting literacy with understanding and resisting their social conditions.
- Critical consciousness is awareness of oppressor-oppressed relationships in all aspects of life, beyond just class.
- Freire’s work inspired movements in US teacher colleges, leading to the dominance of critical pedagogy.
Transformation of Teacher Education
- By the 1990s, colleges of education in North America were widely influenced by Marxist-derived critical pedagogy.
- Critical pedagogy, critical race theory, and post-structural feminism became embedded in teacher training programs.
- Control over education colleges led to widespread dissemination of these ideas to future teachers and students.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Marxism — A theory focusing on class struggle and revolutionary transformation of society.
- Oppressor/Oppressed — Groups defined by relative power; core to Marxist and identity-based analysis.
- Intersectionality — Overlapping systems of oppression based on identities (race, gender, etc.).
- Critical Pedagogy — An educational approach aiming to foster critical awareness of social injustices.
- Critical Consciousness (Conscientization) — Awareness of one’s position within systems of oppression.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the communist manifesto’s first chapter on class struggle.
- Read Paulo Freire’s "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" for deeper understanding of critical pedagogy.
- Prepare questions on identity politics and their impact on modern education for next class discussion.