Interview with Michael Apple

Ana Pedro^1, and Pedro Ferreira²

¹Universidade de Aveiro, Departamento de Educação e Psicologia, Aveiro, Portugal

²Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Psicologia e Ciências da Educação, Porto, Portugal

Cite this paper:
Ana Pedro and Pedro Ferreira. Interview with Michael Apple. American Journal of Educational Research. 2023; 11(8):532-538. doi: 10.12691/education-11-8-8

Abstract

Michael Apple is a major thinker and a reference in the world educational panorama as far as studies on democratic education, curriculum theory and critical analysis of right-wing movements with expression in education are concerned. This interview discusses challenging issues that are present in the current democratic educational situation in both the US and Portugal, which are as relevant today as they were in the past, and which deal with educational and curricular restructuring in the context of neo-liberal and neo-conservative policies. In this regard, the author establishes an analysis that articulates culture and power, critically questioning their multiple effects on education. Given the present social and political situation, he engages with the complex ways in which the influence of the far right and the populist right has sought to impose its perspective on the national curriculum, well-illustrated by case that occurred in Portugal, which caught a lot of media attention and that is still far from resolution. In the interview, it is also possible to appreciate the legacy of M. Apple not only as a scholar of critical education, but also as a permanent activist in (the possibility of a) transformation through education, one that is based on his vast experience in the field of curriculum research and political militancy. Some aspects related to technology and its influence on education and the ethical responsibility of educators, teachers and students with regard to the transformation of society were also present in the conversation. In this respect, it is worth highlighting the progressive critical intervention that students are carrying out in recent years by taking, increasingly, action and mobilization efforts that challenge and affirm educational policy positions.The interview ends with a word of hope from the author addressed to all those who believe in the intervening and transforming role of education. Among them, the important progressive adage, so important to keep in mind: “If not now, when? If not me, who?”.

Keywords:
Critical Education Democracy Populism Far Right Movements Interview

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