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    Sharing the world without losing oneself: education in a pluralistic universe


    O'Donnell, Aislinn (2022) Sharing the world without losing oneself: education in a pluralistic universe. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education, 43 (5). pp. 666-685. ISSN 0159-6306

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    Abstract

    One of the challenges contemporary societies faces is resistance to sharing the world. Investments in ‘extremist’ or ‘identitarian’ identity positions that desire purity and are intolerant of pluralism and difference undermine education. I explain why it is important to explore ‘how ideas feel’, understanding the affective investments in these positions and imaginaries, and the fear of loss of identity that can drive such closed positions. In the second part, I turn to the writings of Édouard Glissant in order to deepen this analysis, paying particular attention to unpacking the desire for purity and the fear of métissage or mixing that are commonplace in racism, xenophobia, and ultra-nationalism. Glissant offers another way of understanding identity-in-relation whereby sharing the world does not mean losing oneself. Finally, I draw on his poetic language of archipelagic pedagogies to suggest some ways in which education can invite students to deepen a sense of world-oriented particularity.

    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Extremism; affect; culturally responsive educations; Glissant; pedagogy; racism;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > Education
    Item ID: 17576
    Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2022.2045072
    Depositing User: Prof Aislinn O'Donnell
    Date Deposited: 20 Sep 2023 14:54
    Journal or Publication Title: Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education
    Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
    Refereed: Yes
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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