Dismantle neoliberalism through education: Theories and practices for radical education

Neoliberal agenda for the science, education system and established pedagogy is more or less done in the whole societies of Europe. But nobody can bring it into the practice without us, students, researchers, activists, immigrants, precarious workers, mothers, lesbians, peasants etc. Connectivity between revolutionary theory and practice grow in all fields of production: production of social relations, collectives, platforms, networks, autonomous or temporary zones, new epistemology in education, eruption of new and different political practices… Market cannot lean on life, education, creation and work. Market is made by and for the small number of ultra rich people with the crystal-clear method – “grow or die”. This is the method of death. Capitalism forces us in this direction. But we are born to live. That’s why we are living to have fan and not to suffer.

We will try to discuss repressions and rebellion in the places where the new political practices are emerging “from below” peculiarly in Latin America (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Guatemala, Honduras, EL Salvador, Argentina), powerful struggles against neoliberal reforms in Europe (reflecting revolutionary practices in Greece) and local attempts for different education and society in Slovenia. How can revolutionary theory and practice intervene in to the social relations today? Why are they crucial for the communities? Where, why and how started new, emancipator practices in last 20, 30 years? We have more questions that answers. But we have also abundant knowledge and experiences with popular education created by peasant communities inside the autonomous organizations or unions like COPIN in Honudars, zapatistas in Chiapas, APPO in Oaxaca. We made militant research with Equipo Maiz in Salvador, we discuss about “teraparte” made by H.I.J.O.S. in Guatemala. We will try to reflect the struggle in Greece. Students, anti-authoritarian and anarchist movement woke up the whole society. They are struggling for more than 1 year and have occupied more than 90 % of universities. Slovenian struggle cannot compare with Greece. But maybe we can show how we thought impossible and how we are creating autonomous production, social centre, university and art production in the factory that was abandoned for 15 years.

In the end we will try to present you the radical education constellation that will serve as a tool for the project Radical Education (Moderna galerija, Ljubljana, September – November 2008). The cartography and mapping of subjectivities/collectivities active and creative in the field of radical and/or alternative education will enable us to create a radical education constellation. This will provide a basis for presentations of all involved – movements, educators, groups, collectives – who wish to connect with others in creating radical and alternative communities and epistemologies and in networking of practices, both online and in everyday life, in education and in society, in the fields of art, the humanities, sciences, movements, social revolt, and all other domains that are ultimately reflected in educational practices.
Marta Gregorèiè
Faculty for Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana