Education for social justice in turbulent times

Filiz Polat and Peter Hick

Chapter 1 in Handbook of Social Justice in Education, 2026, pp 2-17 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This introductory chapter frames the Handbook of Social Justice in Education within an era of intersecting global crises that encompass conflict, forced migration, inequality, and ecological breakdown. It contends that education functions simultaneously as a site of oppression and as a vital arena for transformation. Informed by Fraser's model of redistribution, recognition, and representation, and enriched through decolonial, intersectional, and relational perspectives, the chapter conceptualises education as a moral, political, and epistemic project aimed at advancing human dignity and collective flourishing. The discussion introduces five thematic sections that address the foundations of justice, decolonisation, intersectionality and inclusion, arts and radical pedagogies, and participatory youth-led practices. Together, these highlight how educational spaces can foster critical awareness, cultural renewal, and solidarity across differences. The chapter concludes that social justice in education requires reimagining knowledge, power, and participation as dynamic, collective, and transformative processes oriented toward equity, care, and planetary sustainability.

Keywords: Social Justice In Education; Decoloniality; Intersectionality; Inclusion; Participatory Pedagogy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035318445
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