Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship Education
In his book, <i>No More Heroes: Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality</i>, Jordan Flaherty claims the saviour mentality exists when “you want to help others but are not open to guidance from those you want to help”. According to Flaherty, the adoption of this mentality results in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-04-01
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| Series: | Societies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/10/2/34 |
| _version_ | 1797571166077976576 |
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| author | Gary M. Walsh |
| author_facet | Gary M. Walsh |
| author_sort | Gary M. Walsh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In his book, <i>No More Heroes: Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality</i>, Jordan Flaherty claims the saviour mentality exists when “you want to help others but are not open to guidance from those you want to help”. According to Flaherty, the adoption of this mentality results in charitable activities at individual and community levels without broader systemic change, leaving unjust power relations unaddressed. He argues that this mentality is underpinned by racism, colonialism and capitalism, as well as an unethical and historically problematic understanding of charity. With reference to the ongoing partnership work between Scotland and Malawi, this article summarises a conceptual investigation into the possibility that Global Citizenship Education perpetuates the hero narrative. Historical, political and educational research is connected to Bhabha’s theory of cultural hybridity to conceptualise a theory of Reparational Citizenship Education, in contrast to the “reciprocal” approach favoured by policy makers and charitable organisations in Scotland. It is argued that this conceptual shift involves taking the hero narrative to task and that this approach has theoretical and practical implications for the future of Global Citizenship Education. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:35:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-048719ca7b7c497d82a1f9c1595c196b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4698 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:35:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Societies |
| spelling | doaj.art-048719ca7b7c497d82a1f9c1595c196b2023-11-19T21:01:31ZengMDPI AGSocieties2075-46982020-04-011023410.3390/soc10020034Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship EducationGary M. Walsh0School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G3 6NH, UKIn his book, <i>No More Heroes: Grassroots Challenges to the Savior Mentality</i>, Jordan Flaherty claims the saviour mentality exists when “you want to help others but are not open to guidance from those you want to help”. According to Flaherty, the adoption of this mentality results in charitable activities at individual and community levels without broader systemic change, leaving unjust power relations unaddressed. He argues that this mentality is underpinned by racism, colonialism and capitalism, as well as an unethical and historically problematic understanding of charity. With reference to the ongoing partnership work between Scotland and Malawi, this article summarises a conceptual investigation into the possibility that Global Citizenship Education perpetuates the hero narrative. Historical, political and educational research is connected to Bhabha’s theory of cultural hybridity to conceptualise a theory of Reparational Citizenship Education, in contrast to the “reciprocal” approach favoured by policy makers and charitable organisations in Scotland. It is argued that this conceptual shift involves taking the hero narrative to task and that this approach has theoretical and practical implications for the future of Global Citizenship Education.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/10/2/34global citizenship educationwhite saviour industrial complexhero narrativecultural hybridityreparational citizenship educationsocial justice |
| spellingShingle | Gary M. Walsh Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship Education Societies global citizenship education white saviour industrial complex hero narrative cultural hybridity reparational citizenship education social justice |
| title | Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship Education |
| title_full | Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship Education |
| title_fullStr | Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship Education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship Education |
| title_short | Challenging the Hero Narrative: Moving towards Reparational Citizenship Education |
| title_sort | challenging the hero narrative moving towards reparational citizenship education |
| topic | global citizenship education white saviour industrial complex hero narrative cultural hybridity reparational citizenship education social justice |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4698/10/2/34 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT garymwalsh challengingtheheronarrativemovingtowardsreparationalcitizenshipeducation |