Educational Issues in Development

Abstract

Forces of imperialism and colonial conquest, along with the destruction of traditional land rights and customary systems, have led to much of what ails the world today. Alienated and angry youth abound, from Port Moresby to Paris. However, the spread of science, development, democracy, and enlightenment has resulted in many hundreds of millions of people being delivered from poverty and living rich, technologically and globally influenced lives. What forms of educational policy and practice lead to community and national social, economic, and political development that engenders empathy and pluralism and counters alienation and anger? What works and how can we close the gaps between rich and poor, dominant and minority cultures? Such educational questions and issues are of worldwide interest, significance, and urgency. This entry explores some theoretical and pedagogical issues affecting educational anthropology and recommends forms of best practice for pedagogy and development.