In this theoretical and provocative paper our aim is to problematize universal ideals, and the closely related belief in educationalization, that frame education today. Inspired by the ethico-political work of Agamben ([2007]. "Profanations." New York: Zone Books), and his focus on profane acts of play, and Zupancic's ([2008]. "The…

This article argues that in divided societies, civic education fails to fulfill one of its most important social role: creating a more inclusive society that allows a democratic dialogue to flow across different ideological, religious, and cultural communities. This failure is grounded in two main reasons. First, civics teachers are socially and…

This paper explores the role played by part-time Women's/Gender Studies (WGS) courses in women's lives in the UK through interviews with 35 women who were among 8000 students who studied one of the UK Open University's undergraduate interdisciplinary WGS courses between 1983 and 1999. A thematic analysis of these interviews shows how these mainly…

The concept of social innovation has recently emerged as an influential approach to address intractable social problems. Increasingly discussed in academia and policy circles, the concept draws on multifaceted practices and ideas from many disciplines. Yet despite widespread discussion and promotion, there is still limited understanding of…

The proliferation of policy think tanks and more broadly the rise of "policy networks" can be viewed as indicative of important global transformations in the nature of the state. That is, the emergence of new state modalities, with a shift away from government towards forms of polycentric governance, where policy is produced through…

We focus on the impact of societal change and related societal problems on the youth of post-apartheid South Africa. Within the parameters of an eco-systemic model, it is argued that adolescents' perspectives on their future in this country could be negatively influenced by the extent of societal problems that are currently experienced in South…

In Central America the Cold War support of the elites by the United States was designed to ward off the communist threat. At the same time social and economic demands by the working and middle classes created revolutionary movements in the face of rigid and violent responses by Central American governments. Issues of social justice pervaded the…

Describes six pressures and trends shaping society today: transformation of knowledge; the communications revolution; economic turbulence; shifts in power structures; new concept of work, education, and leisure; and the search for meaning. The effects of these pressures on social transition are discussed and implications drawn for learning and…

The document examines the evolution of kibbutzim in Israel. The author suggests that a primary factor in the kibbutz development is the nature and structure of Israeli modernization efforts. The efforts encompass national ideology, industrialization, and legitimization of certain forms of social interaction. This mode of modernization stands in…

This paper explores the roots of the war on poverty by focusing on factors such as the rise of the empowerment issue, delinquency, and changes among black and white youth. It is suggested that the war on poverty had unintended consequences that have kept the empowerment issue and other important issues alive. (Author/AM)

Discusses need for those in authority to realize potential of young whose impatience with society stirs them to action which forces reexamination of world, and perhaps needed change. Presented at National Conference on Physicians and Schools, Chicago, 1969. (CJ)

When used in combination, the criteria of positive solidarity and anti-institutional orientation can help to refocus the study of social movements towards the analysis of large scale social change outside institutional channels and keep it distinct from the field of collective behavior. (WI)

Covers the activities of the Social Impact Junto at the National Adult Education Conference (November 1984), which considered several questions related to (1) adult education's contributions to societal change, (2) social implications of its content, (3) investigating and resolving problems of mutual concern, and (4) the public's apathy toward a…

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of the social work profession on day care delivery from 1890 to 1946, and to relate the outcomes of the investigation to some contemporary social policy issues. The first chapter discusses day care during the Progressive Era (1890 to 1918) while the second chapter explores the…

This article: 1) defines the nature of social studies and its relations with society; 2) introduces a model explaining this relationship and tests it with four social studies texts; 3) identifies major social problems looming in the future; and, 4) predicts the nature of future social studies. (Author/JB)