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Envisioning Critical Pedagogy in Liberian Higher Education: A Conceptual Framework for Civic and Democratic Engagement

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Title: Envisioning Critical Pedagogy in Liberian Higher Education: A Conceptual Framework for Civic and Democratic Engagement
Language: English
Authors: Gabriel M. Kennedy
Source: Critical Education. 2026 17(1):42-55.
Availability: Institute for Critical Education Studies. 2125 Main Mall, EDCP, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada. Tel: 604-822-2830; Web site: https://ices.library.ubc.ca/index.php/criticaled/
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 15
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Higher Education, Critical Theory, Equal Education, Politics of Education, Critical Thinking, Citizen Participation, Democratic Values, Culturally Relevant Education, Indigenous Knowledge, Ethics, Educational Change, Decolonization, War, Barriers
Geographic Terms: Liberia
ISSN: 1920-4175
Abstract: Liberia's higher education system, shaped by colonial legacies, neoliberal reforms, and fragile democratic institutions, functions less as a site of civic empowerment than as a mechanism that reproduces inequality and constrains democratic agency. Rather than operating as a neutral public good, education in this context is embedded within political-economic structures that reinforce rather than challenge elite dominance. Against this backdrop, the paper argues that critical pedagogy, emphasizing dialogic learning, critical thinking, and civic engagement, offers a framework for reimagining higher education as a space of democratic renewal. Adopting a conceptual literature review with an argumentative orientation, the study synthesizes international and African philosophical traditions of critical pedagogy to assess their relevance for post-conflict Liberia. It underscores the risks of uncritical borrowing, which can reinforce epistemic dependency and alienate students from indigenous cultural frameworks. To address these risks, the paper proposes the Liberian Critical Praxis/Dialogic approach, a localized framework built on three interrelated pillars: dialogic instruction rooted in cultural practices such as the palava hut, integration of indigenous knowledge into curricula, and ethical reasoning, including critical media literacy, anchored in communal responsibility. The paper concludes that reform must be gradual, context-sensitive, and culturally grounded. By situating Indigenous perspectives alongside international theory, the Liberian Critical Praxis/Dialogic approach contributes to debates on decolonizing higher education and demonstrates how post-conflict universities can foster democratic participation and civic resilience.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1499658
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Institute for Critical Education Studies. 2125 Main Mall, EDCP, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4 Canada. Tel: 604-822-2830; Web site: https://ices.library.ubc.ca/index.php/criticaled/
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: 1920-4175
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  Data: Liberia's higher education system, shaped by colonial legacies, neoliberal reforms, and fragile democratic institutions, functions less as a site of civic empowerment than as a mechanism that reproduces inequality and constrains democratic agency. Rather than operating as a neutral public good, education in this context is embedded within political-economic structures that reinforce rather than challenge elite dominance. Against this backdrop, the paper argues that critical pedagogy, emphasizing dialogic learning, critical thinking, and civic engagement, offers a framework for reimagining higher education as a space of democratic renewal. Adopting a conceptual literature review with an argumentative orientation, the study synthesizes international and African philosophical traditions of critical pedagogy to assess their relevance for post-conflict Liberia. It underscores the risks of uncritical borrowing, which can reinforce epistemic dependency and alienate students from indigenous cultural frameworks. To address these risks, the paper proposes the Liberian Critical Praxis/Dialogic approach, a localized framework built on three interrelated pillars: dialogic instruction rooted in cultural practices such as the palava hut, integration of indigenous knowledge into curricula, and ethical reasoning, including critical media literacy, anchored in communal responsibility. The paper concludes that reform must be gradual, context-sensitive, and culturally grounded. By situating Indigenous perspectives alongside international theory, the Liberian Critical Praxis/Dialogic approach contributes to debates on decolonizing higher education and demonstrates how post-conflict universities can foster democratic participation and civic resilience.
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  Data: 2026
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    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 15
        StartPage: 42
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Critical Theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Equal Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Politics of Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Critical Thinking
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Citizen Participation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Democratic Values
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Culturally Relevant Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indigenous Knowledge
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ethics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decolonization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: War
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Liberia
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Envisioning Critical Pedagogy in Liberian Higher Education: A Conceptual Framework for Civic and Democratic Engagement
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