(Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Eritrea
There is a debate on the role of education as a tool to challenge or enforce authoritarian attitudes. Many posit that education, particularly higher education, reduces authoritarianism; whereas vast research indicates that education can be used as an authoritarian tool for regime survival. This sugg...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/7/801 |
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| author | Zeraslasie Redie Shiker Samson Maekele Tsegay |
| author_facet | Zeraslasie Redie Shiker Samson Maekele Tsegay |
| author_sort | Zeraslasie Redie Shiker |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a debate on the role of education as a tool to challenge or enforce authoritarian attitudes. Many posit that education, particularly higher education, reduces authoritarianism; whereas vast research indicates that education can be used as an authoritarian tool for regime survival. This suggests that there are other intervening factors, such as the curriculum used, the teaching methodology implemented, and the educational administration employed, to securitise the academic space and impose authoritarian attitudes. Informed by the notion of hegemony and the banking concept of education, this article explores the nexus between education and authoritarianism, determining the role of education as an authoritarian tool for regime survival. We use the case of Eritrea, a country that has been under authoritarian government for more than two decades. The article is based on a literature review because it is risky to conduct an objective empirical study on the “politics of education” in Eritrea, given the country’s political sensitivity. The findings suggest that the Eritrean government politicises the curriculum and militarises secondary and higher education levels to create false consciousness and maintain power. The article contributes to advancing knowledge regarding the nexus of authoritarianism and education, helping people understand the state of the politics of education. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7116bd67ae145e7b7c42efa5feaa45c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-e7116bd67ae145e7b7c42efa5feaa45c2025-08-20T03:07:57ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-06-0115780110.3390/educsci15070801(Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of EritreaZeraslasie Redie Shiker0Samson Maekele Tsegay1School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKCERII (Centre for Education Research on Identities and Inequalities), School of Education, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UKThere is a debate on the role of education as a tool to challenge or enforce authoritarian attitudes. Many posit that education, particularly higher education, reduces authoritarianism; whereas vast research indicates that education can be used as an authoritarian tool for regime survival. This suggests that there are other intervening factors, such as the curriculum used, the teaching methodology implemented, and the educational administration employed, to securitise the academic space and impose authoritarian attitudes. Informed by the notion of hegemony and the banking concept of education, this article explores the nexus between education and authoritarianism, determining the role of education as an authoritarian tool for regime survival. We use the case of Eritrea, a country that has been under authoritarian government for more than two decades. The article is based on a literature review because it is risky to conduct an objective empirical study on the “politics of education” in Eritrea, given the country’s political sensitivity. The findings suggest that the Eritrean government politicises the curriculum and militarises secondary and higher education levels to create false consciousness and maintain power. The article contributes to advancing knowledge regarding the nexus of authoritarianism and education, helping people understand the state of the politics of education.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/7/801educationauthoritarianismmilitarisation of educationhegemonybanking educationEritrea |
| spellingShingle | Zeraslasie Redie Shiker Samson Maekele Tsegay (Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Eritrea Education Sciences education authoritarianism militarisation of education hegemony banking education Eritrea |
| title | (Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Eritrea |
| title_full | (Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Eritrea |
| title_fullStr | (Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Eritrea |
| title_full_unstemmed | (Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Eritrea |
| title_short | (Mis)Education in Authoritarian Regimes: The Case of Eritrea |
| title_sort | mis education in authoritarian regimes the case of eritrea |
| topic | education authoritarianism militarisation of education hegemony banking education Eritrea |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/7/801 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zeraslasieredieshiker miseducationinauthoritarianregimesthecaseoferitrea AT samsonmaekeletsegay miseducationinauthoritarianregimesthecaseoferitrea |