Course Overview

The seminar introduces the research perspective of governmentality studies and explores its relevance for the sociology of education. Following the work of Michel Foucault and others, in this seminar we understand education as a practice of „creating kinds of people“ (Popkewitz) and as a technology of governing these kinds of people according to (historically changing) societal conditions and ideals. In this sense, we understand the task of sociology of education as to reconstruct such technologies of government, forms of subjectivation and its effects in the field of education. This reconstruction includes educational research itself, which is not understood as neutral observer of these practices, but as an actor involved in them.The seminar consist of two parts: In the first part, we discuss the most important theoretical foundations and concepts of governmentality studies. In the second part, we discuss this perspective based on examples of concrete forms of subjectivation currently prevalent in the field of educational practice and research (e.g. the ‚enterprising self‘, the ‚integrated Muslim‘, the ‚eco-certified child‘, the ‚promising student‘). We analyse the assumptions, normativities and including and excluding effects of these forms of subjectivation and discuss implications for educational practice. A focus will be on issues related to diversity, discrimination and privilege.

Learning Achievement

Competence

Course prerequisites

Grading Philosophy

Course schedule

10 October 2023 to 19 December 2023, Tuesday 4-6 pm (CEST) online via Zoom

Course type

Online Course Requirement

Presentation and moderation of a seminar session (in groups), essay (10-12 pages)

Instructor

Daniel Schumann

Other information

For course registration please send an email to Daniel Schumann (daniel.schumann@ruhr-uni-bochum.de)

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