In search of the ethos of the educational policies of the far-right
Keywords:
far-right, educational policy, radical right, extreme rightAbstract
The article examines the education policy programs of two Finnish and two German far-right parties. The article's research question is how these parties formulate educational policy ideas typical of far-right parties in their educational policy programs, and what similarities and differences there are between the programs. We answer the question by analyzing the educational policy and other programs of the parties using the method of theory-driven content analysis. The categories that guide the content analysis are derived from previous research on far-right education policy. Our analysis shows that the far-right education policy programs are similar in many respects. Their ethos emphasizes anti-intellectualism, an instrumental understanding of education, national identity, and sport. They accuse current educational institutions of ideological indoctrination. In addition, they consider it important to differentiate students according to their skill level and demand the restoration of discipline and order in schools. From the point of view of liberal democracy, the education policies of the parties we studied include problematic conceptions of nationality, citizenship, and society, which can be considered challenging and even dangerous in terms of the realization of human rights, equality, and equality among citizens due to their exclusivity.
