Discourse and Power in Educational Organizations

Addressing the role of language in the exercise of power, as it affects educational organisations, the editor combines central traditions in social science inquiry: concern for the post-modern and post-positivist condition of the contemporary world; and concern for the praxis of critical theory.

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In today's post-modern and post-traditional institutions, power is mainly exercised through the generation of consent, through the distribution of ideologies and through the subtle indoctrination of self-disciplining practices, rather than through the use of force or brute authority. This change in the nature of institutional practices focuses the role that language has always had in the exercise of power. To address the topic as it affects educational organisations, the editor combines two central traditions in contemporary social science inquiry; concern for the post-modern and post-positivist condition of the contemporary world; and concern for the praxis of critical theory. Contributors to the book's 14 chapters approach their topics from either or both of these traditions. In his introductions to the two parts of the book, the editor suggests how these traditions can combine and at the same time respond to the challenges of educational concerns within the post-modern condition. This book's style and content should appeal to students and researchers in educational research, curriculum studies, policy studies and educational administration. The authors are all noted for their contributions to the analysis of discourse and its power coordinates. They will introduce some readers to new worlds - the worlds of teacher supervision, female leadership, critical language awareness, the signing deaf and minority outgroups.