by Henry A. Giroux
Bloomsbury Academic
1/26/2023, paperback
SKU: 9781350350816
With this book Henry A. Giroux argues that insurrection has become a dominant motif for the USA and other countries torn between the promises and ideals of democracy and an emergent authoritarianism. He argues that education is central to the idea of insurrection, showing how on the one hand it contributes to an insurrectional authoritarianism, wedded to a fascist legacy that calls for racial purity, militarism, ultra-nationalism, and state terrorism. On the other hand he presents the idea of insurrectional democracy which has a long legacy in the battle for racial justice, economic equality, and a politics of inclusion.
The book explores how both positions are motivated by specific visions, values, and particular understandings of education and agency. He also shows how powerful images, social media, and the internet are in merging political education, power, and cultural politics. Giroux makes an impassioned call for an insurrectional democracy that makes education central to politics and produces an anti-capitalist consciousness as the basis for developing a mass movement in defense of a radical democracy.
Reviews:
"Henry Giroux's phenomenal book couldn't be more urgent, as it calls us to imagine, dream, learn, act, and build against ascendant fascism. Vitally, Insurrections also illuminates a vision of insurrectional democracy grounded in critical education, lighting a path forward in these perilous times. Brilliant!" -- Maya Schenwar, editor-in-chief of Truthout and co-author of Prison by Any Other Name
"The James Baldwin quote that comes at the end of Insurrections: Education in an Age of Counter-Revolutionary Politics might easily have been one of its beginning epigrams: "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." In this latest book, Giroux fearlessly stares down the implications of the extremely alarming conditions that led to the January 6th attack on the Capital and analyzes the very real threat they pose to democracy. This is an extremely brave, startlingly lucid and terrifying book that nonetheless offers a path forward and a much-needed infusion of hope." -- Carol Becker, Professor of the Arts, Dean of Columbia University School of the Arts
About the Author:
Henry A. Giroux holds the Chair for Scholarship in the Public Interest in English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University, Canada. His books include American Nightmare: Facing the Challenge of Fascism, On Critical Pedagogy and Race, Politics, and Pandemic Pedagogy.