Knowledge for Social Change

Employing history, social theory, and a detailed contemporary case study, Knowledge for Social Change argues for fundamentally reshaping research universities to function as democratic, civic, and community-engaged institutions dedicated to advancing learning and knowledge for social change. The authors focus on significant contributions to learning made by Francis Bacon, Benjamin Franklin, Seth Low, Jane Addams, William Rainey Harper, and John Deweyas well as their own work at Penns Netter Center for Community Partnershipsto help create and sustain democratically-engaged colleges and universities for the public good. Knowledge for Social Change highlights university-assisted community schools to effect a thoroughgoing change of research universities that will contribute to more democratic schools, communities, and societies. The authors also call on democratic-minded academics to create and sustain a global movement dedicated to advancing learning for the relief of mans estatean iconic phrase by Francis Bacon that emphasized the continued betterment of the human conditionand to realize Deweys vision of an organic Great Community composed of participatory, democratic, collaborative, and interdependent societies.