Towards a ‘pedagogy of coexistence’ in the making of democracy

Description

The process of dehumanisation of targeted groups is a permanent threat to democracy and human rights. Over history ‘pedagogies of monstrosity’ were used to naturalise and justify oppressive practices that aimed to keep or expand power on its several dimensions (political, economic, symbolical). The current socio-political climate is one that once again is producing new monsters such as immigrants, Muslims, ‘chavs’ and, as consequence, new forms of othering that set boundaries, hate, indifference. This is learnt through disperse narratives that aim to produce ‘truth’. The response to this cannot only sit on ‘anti-stigma’ agency, but in the adoption of a ‘paradigm of potency’ that acknowledge the inventive power of marginalised groups. In this talk I will reflect upon two ‘pedagogies’ that are driving forces in the socio-political symbolic field: the ‘pedagogies of monstrosity’ and the ‘pedagogies of coexistence’. The presentation will reflect an agenda that is being proposed by the Joao and Maria Aleixo Institute (Brazil) which culminated in an international seminar held in Rio de Janeiro in March 2017.

Period	22 Mar 2017
Event title	Learning for Democracy
Event type	Seminar
Location	Dundee, United KingdomShow on map