EUROPEAN DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, MULTICULTURALISM AND THE THIRD WAY

Abstract

The tradition of European democratic socialism continues to be central to current debates in respect of the provision of comprehensive forms of education in the British national context. Focusing on the writing of Richard Hoggart and Raymond Williams I outline their different if related attempts to rethink the provision of ‘public’ forms of education. Through an analysis of their distinctive contributions the argument seeks to defend the importance of ideals related to the common good and solidarity with the urban poor. In this article, I argue that Anthony Giddens's ideas in respect of the third way have sought to rethink the relationship between democratic socialism and education. While disputing the view that the third way can be dismissed as a form of neo-liberalism, I seek to defend less market-based forms of education and ideals related to self-development. The danger here remains that the third way gives up too much ground to neo-liberal attempts to reshape society and education in the image of the market place. Finally I argue that democratic socialist arguments need to be revived in more contemporary settings while being rethought through more multicultural concerns. Yet while such a political strategy is necessary to develop an alternative hegemony on questions of education it is likely to be reliant upon the emergence of a robust European socialist and multicultural left.

Keywords:

• education
• public
• citizenship
• multiculturalism
• socialism
• Left

Notes

1. A noteable absence in the third way argument is any discussion of the democratic or otherwise potential of technology in the educational context. In this respect see Douglas Kellner (2000, 2003).

2. Raymond Williams (1981) emphasizes the importance of cultural reproduction for education and the media of mass communication.