Skip to main content

When All Is Said and Done: Consensus or Pluralism?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Engaging Student Voices in Higher Education

Abstract

The apparent power of the student voice has undoubtedly grown and perhaps appears as strong as it ever has been. However, is this a charade, promulgated by universities who suggest this student voice is somehow representative of all when in reality it silences many? The perception that the singular voice is drawn from a consensus, bringing together potentially disparate views, appears to be based on aspects of pragmatism and fairness. However, as the student body becomes ever more diverse respecting the range of shifting voices offers an alternative through greater collaboration and partnership, establishing new dialogues and even reengaging with many in the silent majority. This chapter examines why a shift from consensus to pluralism is now necessary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Connolly, W. E. (2017). Pluralism in political analysis. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gravett, K., Kinchin, I. M., & Winstone, N. E. (in press). ‘More than customers’: Conceptions of students as partners held by students, staff, and institutional leaders. Studies in Higher Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harre, R. (1998). The singular self: An introduction to the psychology of personhood. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henkel, M. (2005). Academic identity and autonomy in a changing policy environment. Higher Education, 49, 155–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, B. (2016). What’s happening to our universities? Prometheus, 34(1), 7–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rescher, N. (1993). Pluralism: Against the demand for consensus. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rose, D., Efraim, D., Gervais, M.-C., Joffe, H., Jovchelovitch, S., & Morant, N. (1995). Questioning consensus in social representations theory. Papers on Social Representations, 4(2), 150–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowland, S. (2002). Overcoming fragmentation in professional life: The challenge for academic development. Higher Education Quarterly, 56(1), 52–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spickard, J. (2017). Diversity vs Pluralism. Religions, 8(9), 169–179.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wittgenstein, L. (1958). Philosophical investigations. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Simon Lygo-Baker .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Lygo-Baker, S., Kinchin, I.M., Winstone, N.E. (2019). When All Is Said and Done: Consensus or Pluralism?. In: Lygo-Baker, S., Kinchin, I., Winstone, N. (eds) Engaging Student Voices in Higher Education . Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20824-0_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-20824-0_19

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-20823-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-20824-0

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics