Revolution through reform

There has of late been a renewal of interest in Paulo Friere's 'conscientization' education movement and in Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent movement for so cial change known as Sarvodaya. Prof Zachariah compares these two move ments, reviewing their history and social contexts and examines their inherent contradictions in their attempts to achieve revolutionary goals.

Conscientization, according to the author, is more oriented towards change in the material world to be brought about by militant group mobilization whereas Sarvodaya emphasizes social change by teaching individuals to change them selves. He views both conscientization and Sarvodaya as ethical philosophies and as revitalization movements. The book challenges modernization and de pendency theories which seek to explain movements for fundamental change in several parts of the world. A recurring theme in the book is that ethical philosophies and social movements are products of the experience of members of a society living in a particular time and place. Their attempts to transcend these culturally determined limitations deserve careful study. Revolution through Reform is an invaluable addition to the philosophy of education and will be indispensable for those interested in education,
and social change.