Governing Literate Populations

'A refreshingly discerning interrogation of literacy as a practice of government. Highlighting longstanding and ongoing connections between literacy education and securitisation this pioneering study of education policy is scholarly, methodologically meticulous and theoretically audacious'. – Julie Matthews, Associate Head of Research, The University of Adeleide, Australia

‘A half century after Richard Hoggart's original "The Uses of Literacy" - this important new work by Stephen Kelly explains how public policy and media debate over literacy have been reenlisted by the neoliberal state for economic and political purposes.’- Allan Luke, Emeritus Professor, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

‘For many years now policy studies have been directing our attention to the ways that policy in education is framed specifically to serve national competitiveness in a globalising economy. Stephen Kelly's brilliant new book shifts our attention to the way that education policy is also framed in terms of the demands of the security state. National security concerns now reach into schools to constitute 'good' literacy practices. Stephen's book provides a thoughtful engagement with Foucault's extensive account of neoliberal govern-mentality in his recently translated lectures, Security, Territory, Population and the Politics of Bio-power.’ - Robert Hattam, Associate Professor, University of South Australia, Australia

‘Literacy is one of those social forms that everyone values. Who isn’t in favour of community, transparency, or literacy? It is precisely the universal and unquestionable appeal of literacy that makes it such a powerful and seductive form. Governing Literate Populations critically interrogates this power, making this book tremendously important not just for scholars of education but anyone interested in the genealogy of modern government.’ - William Walters, Professor, Carleton University, Canada

‘This highly readable study makes a wide ranging and lucidly organised use of Foucault's methods and ideas to firmly situate and historicise the current policy environment around literacy and education within the global context of increasing concerns around security. In its timely and novel focus on the nexus between security, literacy and education policy, with detailed illustrations from the Australian political context, this book raises important and urgent concerns about the tensions between security and freedom in the contemporary state.’ - Clare O’Farrell, Faculty of Education, Queensland University of Technology, Australia

‘This important book offers a powerful reframing of the social and political aspirations usually attached to literacy and its civic functions. In showing how concerns with security are transforming everyday education, it brings a critical and historicising eye onto the promises of literacy and the work it does in making citizens in an era of insecurity. It speaks to educators and beyond and brings alive the rich value of careful genealogical work.’- Julie McLeod, Professor in Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia