Educational Leadership in Becoming (On the potential of leadership in action)

Educational Leadership in Becoming reconsiders educational leadership in its current forms, and presents a more plausible form of educational leadership to contend with the complexities currently found in universities and schools. Much of the literature in vogue concerning educational leadership ranges from transactional to transformative representations of the concept in relation to educational management and policy, curriculum inquiry and pedagogical action. The primary aim of this book is to revisit some of the dominant understandings of educational leadership and to offer an extended view of the practice along the lines of potentiality and becoming.

Davids and Waghid argue that all current forms of educational leadership are insufficient to enact responsible human action, particularly when it comes to addressing the combined issues of globalisation and equitable redress and transformation, whether in relation to leading schools or universities. The primary objective of the book is to draw on the Agambian notion of becoming in order to show that an educational leadership in becoming is better placed to not only address the myriad challenges besetting education, but to also enhance the potential of leadership in action.

The book addresses an international audience by analysing conceptions of transformative leadership and should be read by anyone who is interested in education and educational leadership, as well as the impact of neoliberal agendas on education and society. It should also appeal to those interested in the philosophy of education.