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Gentile and Fascist Education: Educational Totalitarianism and Political-Pedagogical Theology

Gentile and Fascist Education: Educational Totalitarianism and Political-Pedagogical Theology

Hardcover

Series: Critical Global Citizenship Education

General EducationGeneral Political Science

PREORDER - Expected ship date September 25, 2026

ISBN10: 1041282966
ISBN13: 9781041282969
Publisher: Routledge
Published: Sep 25 2026
Pages: 234
Weight: 1.09
Height: 0.56 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English

This book examines the educational philosophy of Giovanni Gentile (1875-1944), whose educational theories and cultural policies shaped the ideological foundation of Mussolini's fascist regime.

Adopting a cultural-historical approach, it analyzes Gentile's philosophy (known as actualism), revealing inherent conceptual confusion in his characterisation of Intellect and Will. By establishing a direct parallel between the teacher-student relationship and the citizen-state dynamic under fascist leadership, it demonstrates how Gentile's educational philosophy evolved into a political theology. Yet the fundamental contradiction at the heart of Gentile's project remains: the impossibility of educating for freedom through authoritarian methods. Tracing the structural ambiguities within actualist philosophy and their practical implementation, the book illuminates how Gentile's educational totalitarianism was destined for failure--a defeat that paralleled fascism's broader collapse. With contemporary relevance for understanding neo-actualist movements and emerging authoritarian tendencies, this work offers crucial insights into the relationship between educational theory and political power.

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General Education