On education and the role of intellectuals

Stevenson, Howard

Abstract

In this chapter, Gramsci’s key ideas relating to education are presented. Central to Gramsci’s thinking was the relationship between education and political change, and much of his own political activity was defined by his integration of intellectual work with practical action. The chapter begins with an overview and analysis of Gramsci’s ideas on formal education, which remain some of the most controversial aspects of Gramsci’s writings. Sometimes presented as a conservative on questions of the curriculum and pedagogy, a counter-argument is offered that seeks to reconcile Gramsci’s traditional and radical instincts. In the second part of the chapter, the focus is on Gramsci’s ideas in relation to the role of intellectuals. For Gramsci, those he identified as ‘organic intellectuals’ were to be the ‘organisers and leaders’ of any social change, and the implications of this analysis are debated, in particular the notion that leadership is, in essence, an educative process.

Citation

Stevenson, H. (2023). On education and the role of intellectuals. In Educational leadership and Antonio Gramsci: the organising of ideas. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429505102-3

• Publication Date: Nov 17, 2023
• Deposit Date: Nov 27, 2023
• Publisher: Routledge
• Series Title: Critical studies in educational leadership, management and administration
• Book Title: Educational leadership and Antonio Gramsci: the organising of ideas
• ISBN: 9781138585720
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429505102-3
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25394929
• Publisher URL: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/mono/10.4324/9780429505102-3/education-role-intellectuals-howard-stevenson