Curriculum and the Problem of Violence: Biopolitics, Truth, History and Fascism

This book explores the genealogy of violence in the United States and internationally, tracing the historical roots of issues such as ethnonationalism, authoritarianism, and surveillance technologies to factors such as Ur-Fascism, white supremacy, corporate capitalism, and religious extremism. It argues that the current problem of violence is not new but is rooted in historical features and offers a re-examination of curriculum in light of curricular ethics and Foucault's biopolitics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 20 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book is a genealogical exploration into the contemporary issue of violence, both domestically and globally, through the lens of curriculum theory. It delves into a multitude of problems, including war, authoritarianism, post-truth, social inequalities, and the proliferation of advanced surveillance technologies. The author argues that the current problem of violence is neither novel nor exceptional, tracing its historical roots to various factors such as Ur-Fascism, white supremacy, corporate capitalism, religious extremism, propaganda, and public relations. By examining the genealogical trajectories of violence in a global context, the book offers a fresh perspective on curriculum and presents new possibilities for re-examining its role in shaping individuals and society.

As a significant contribution to curriculum studies, this book aligns with curricular ethics as articulated by Bill Pinar, encompassing aspects such as the social and historical situation of the self, the reconstruction of one's understanding of self and the world, and the potential for reconstructing the social world as more peaceful and just. Moreover, the book contributes to a re-theorization of Foucault's biopolitics, presenting it as affirmative biopower infused with an ethics of truth-seeking as a technology of the self.

This book will appeal to scholars and students with interests in curriculum theory, authoritarianism, non-violence studies, justice studies, ethnonationalism, and related fields. Its comprehensive analysis and insightful perspectives make it a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of violence and its impact on education and society.

Weight: 480g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032303642