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Inclusion as Social Justice: Nancy Fraser’s Theory in the South African Context

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Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education

Part of the book series: Springer International Handbooks of Education ((SIHE))

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Abstract

Current research suggests that the meaning of inclusion and social justice is still widely contested despite the seeming global acceptance of these educational reforms in most nations. While inclusion and social justice policies are now prevalent in many countries, these concepts bear discussion because they remain elusive and thus subject to numerous interpretations. This chapter reports on conceptualizations of inclusion and social justice in the South African context by authors who live and work in South Africa. They critically examine the concept of inclusion using American critical theorist-feminist Nancy Fraser’s social justice framework. The authors demonstrate how this substantive theory of justice usefully provides conceptual tools for understanding inequalities and inequities in education. An analysis is presented of inclusion as social justice and demonstrates what it looks like in the real-life practice of a South African case. Educators will find conceptual tools aimed at creating meaningful interventions in the areas of inclusion, equity, and social justice that support diverse learners with wide-ranging needs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Education Department, Faculty of Education, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

    Ellison Musara & Carolyn (Callie) Grant

  2. Centre of Higher Education Research Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Education, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa

    Jo-Anne Vorster

Authors
  1. Ellison Musara
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  2. Carolyn (Callie) Grant
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  3. Jo-Anne Vorster
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carolyn (Callie) Grant .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Blacksburg, VA, USA

    Carol A. Mullen

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Musara, E., Grant, C.(., Vorster, JA. (2021). Inclusion as Social Justice: Nancy Fraser’s Theory in the South African Context. In: Mullen, C.A. (eds) Handbook of Social Justice Interventions in Education. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29553-0_107-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29553-0_107-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-29553-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-29553-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education

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