CHAPTER 12

THE LIBERAL PERSPECTIVE AS IDEOLOGY

Ideological Incorporation and Social Control

Thus far we have identified two historical periods in which different concerns have dominated thought and policy with regard to adult illiteracy. In each period, the concerns have been expressed in relatively coherent perspectives. The first period was the mid-1800's, during the emergence of the capitalist factory system, and the second dates from the early part of the 20th century, and spans the time of the rise of monopoly capitalism.

In our historical survey, we have found that a common theme running through the dominant perspectives on illiteracy is the use of literacy education as a means of social control and ideological incorporation of the surplus population on behalf of the interests of capitalist elites, particularly during times when members of this stratum of the working class are reacting against intensified economic exploitation. One analytical task which remains is to establish whether this theme can be identified in the third and most recent period of responses to illiteracy, i.e. from the late 1950's to the present day. That is, did the liberal perspective on illiteracy achieve its dominant position because it had practical ideological value for capitalist elites in 'domesticating' the surplus population? In the present chapter, evidence on this question is presented.

Political Challenge

The question before us concerns the nature of the political dynamics which stimulated political elites to intervene in the labour market through the liberal remediation strategy in the post-1950's period. We can obtain some guidance in this matter through examining the situation In the United States, which, like Canada, faced high and persistent levels of unemployment and poverty in the midst of what was a period of relative prosperity. Castells points out that:

It was in the late 1950's that the first signs of weakness appeared in the "American miracle." The serious economic crisis of 1957-1958 to some degree affected the productivity agreement reached between monopoly capital and organized labor, triggering a new wave of strikes. ...Internally, it had become clear that economic growth was not great enough to close the gap between the "mainstream" and the "underdogs." Unemployment, underemployment, and poverty were recognized as structural trends. Racial discrimination was continuing and, more seriously, a black mass movement was. spreading under the theme of civil rights. People started new flights for freedom and life. Class struggle was intensifying.