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Education, Systemic Indoctrination, and 21st Century Authoritarianism
April 17 at 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Authoritarianism is a political outlook in which the power of the state to command and coerce citizens is seen to legitimately trump democratic values, the rule of law and civil liberties. Observers have documented a rise in authoritarian political attitudes across the globe. It has become increasingly clear educational systems have been an influential lever in advancing an authoritarian outlook, both in terms of the internal culture of educational institutions themselves (e.g., pressure to conform to various ideological precepts) and with respect to the political exploitation of public worries about the trustworthiness of those same institutions (e.g., moral panic about ‘indoctrination’). It is undeniable that education is key to understanding authoritarianism as a 21st-century phenomenon. How should concerned educators understand and respond to these developments? Is authoritarianism in the 21st century different from its 20th century counterpart? How might educational institutions be conscripted for authoritarian purposes (or to combat them)?
This symposium session will feature a panel of scholars taking up these, and related questions, followed by a discussion with the audience.
Room location and Zoom link will be emailed.
Speakers
Fedor Korochkin
TU Dortmund University, Germany
Center for Independent Social Research – US, Washington, DC
Thomas Heilke
Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science,
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Manuela Ungureanu
Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science
University of British Columbia Okanagan
Christopher Martin
Director, Centre for Mindful Engagement,
UBC Okanagan School of Education
Supported by
The Centre for Mindful Engagement and the Department of Economics, Philosophy and Political Science.
