Neoliberalism and postmodernism

The sacylla and charybdis for critical pedagogy and what can be done about it

Abstract

The rise of neoliberalism
during the late 1970s in the West however fundamentally questioned the role of
higher education institutions in the process of public good formation. Neoliberals and postmodernist
generally chafe at what they consider improbable utopianism albeit for different
reasons (Allan, 2011). Yet, there are many of us who hold to the ideals of critical
pedagogy and believe that justice can be achieved through education. The
purpose of this paper is to demonstrate ways in which higher education
institutions and critical theorists can create knowledge which promotes the public
good, in light of neoliberalism and the postmodern critique. Ultimately, I call for
the creation of a new academic discipline, higher education and the public good.