Progressive Neoliberalism in Education: Critical Perspectives on Manifestations and Resistance

This volume makes the novel contribution of applying Nancy Fraser’s concept of progressive neoliberalism to education in order to illustrate how social justice efforts have been co-opted by neoliberal forces.

As well as recognising the lack of consensus surrounding the very nature of Fraser’s concept of progressive neoliberalism, the book delivers a diversity of perspectives and methodological orientations that offer critical and nuanced examination of the diverse ways in which progressive neoliberalism has shaped education in North America. Documenting manifestations of progressive neoliberalism in areas including anti-racist education, teacher education, STEM, and assessment, the volume uses qualitative empirical research and critical discourse analysis to identify emerging tools and strategies to disentangle the progressive aims of education from neoliberal agendas.

Offering a rarely nuanced treatment of the phenomenon of neoliberalism, this text will benefit scholars, academics, and students in the fields of education policy and politics, the sociology of education, and the philosophy of education more broadly. Those involved with the theory of education and multicultural education in general will also benefit from this volume.

Ajay Sharma is Associate Professor of Educational Theory and Practice, University of Georgia, USA.

Mardi Schmeichel is Associate Professor of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA.

Elizabeth Wurzburg is Assistant Clinical Professor of Educational Theory & Practice at the University of Georgia, USA.