Autonomism and Teacher Education

Synonyms

Operaismo; Post-Marxism; Post-operaismo

Introduction

Autonomist Marxism, or simply “autonomism,” has been an important strand within radical political thinking since the middle of the twentieth century, although its history has been checkered and complex. It is perhaps better understood as a radical tendency rather than as a theoretically unified and historically continuous tradition. That said, at particular times and in specific contexts, it has been highly influential, and it has been particularly significant in providing critical analyses of globalization and neoliberalism; the regimes of “austerity” imposed by governments in the early twenty-first century; and the ways in which work and workplaces have changed as a result of these. Autonomism provides theoretical frameworks for understanding these issues but has also led to the development of distinctive approaches to inquiry. As such it provides unique insights into educational systems and processes; the political...