Key research themes
1. How do Marxist theories conceptualize social class dynamics in relation to labor alienation and political movements?
This research theme investigates evolving Marxist perspectives on the nature of social class, particularly emphasizing labor's dispossession and alienation in capitalist societies. It critiques traditional, static class models and explores the implications of class fluidity for understanding and supporting contemporary social and political movements. This theme matters because a refined class analysis shapes Marxist praxis and theoretical coherence in interpreting ongoing struggles and transformations under capitalism.
2. How can Marxist theory inform analyses of education as a site for class struggle and social emancipation?
This theme explores the application of Marxist thought to education, considering how educational structures reproduce or challenge capitalist class relations. It engages with historical and contemporary projects of worker and popular education, emphasizing pedagogical practices that express subordinated group experiences and foster emancipatory potential. Understanding education through a Marxist lens matters for shaping transformative social praxis and contesting capitalist hegemonies within and beyond schooling.
3. What are the roles of ideology, hegemony, and populism in shaping contemporary political and social formations under capitalism?
This theme examines the Marxist-critiqued ideological processes underpinning power structures, focusing on populism, religious majoritarianism, and hegemonic projects that seek to universalize particular interests. It considers how these manifestations impact socio-political dynamics, often mediating capitalist relations and producing specific political subjectivities. Investigating these processes is crucial for developing Marxist strategies to confront current and emerging forms of political domination and class struggle.