Educational Leadership and Critical Realism

Anthony Thorpe; Jean Pierre Elonga Mboyo

Educational Leadership and Critical Realism

Anthony Thorpe, Jean Pierre Elonga Mboyo

Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

Abstract

Adopting a critical realist approach to educational leadership, this book shows how applied theory can contribute to the development of mechanisms allowing for the effective leadership of organisations. Through an examination of pertinent theories and debates in educational leadership and critical realist thought, it moves to offer demonstrations of practical uses of critical realism that include the transformation of reflective practice, the development and practice of leadership, and the formulation as well as the enactment of policy. Considering the role that realist thought can play in the resolution of educational crises in sub-Saharan Africa and bridging the gap between research and practice, the authors argue that change is possible and that it can be initiated from within the field of educational leadership. Centred on a vision of social justice for human flourishing instead of operating within narrow and mechanistic pre-occupations, Educational Leadership and Critical Realism will appeal to scholars across the social sciences, as well as to practitioners and policy-makers in the field of education.

Original language	English
Place of Publication	Abingdon, Oxon & New York
Publisher	Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group
Number of pages	186
ISBN (Electronic)	978- 1- 003- 44983- 6
ISBN (Print)	978- 1- 032- 58380- 8, 978- 1- 032- 58381- 5
Publication status	Published - 18 Sept 2025

Publication series

Name	Routledge Studies in Critical Realism
Publisher	Routledge

Keywords

Critical realism
Education
Leadership
Management
Policy
professional practice

Cite this

@book{b089a65815aa49e4bccb41ca23779359,

title = "Educational Leadership and Critical Realism",

abstract = "Adopting a critical realist approach to educational leadership, this book shows how applied theory can contribute to the development of mechanisms allowing for the effective leadership of organisations. Through an examination of pertinent theories and debates in educational leadership and critical realist thought, it moves to offer demonstrations of practical uses of critical realism that include the transformation of reflective practice, the development and practice of leadership, and the formulation as well as the enactment of policy. Considering the role that realist thought can play in the resolution of educational crises in sub-Saharan Africa and bridging the gap between research and practice, the authors argue that change is possible and that it can be initiated from within the field of educational leadership. Centred on a vision of social justice for human flourishing instead of operating within narrow and mechanistic pre-occupations, Educational Leadership and Critical Realism will appeal to scholars across the social sciences, as well as to practitioners and policy-makers in the field of education.",

keywords = "Critical realism, Education, Leadership, Management, Policy, professional practice",

author = "Anthony Thorpe and \{Elonga Mboyo\}, \{Jean Pierre\}",

year = "2025",

month = sep,

day = "18",

language = "English",

isbn = "978- 1- 032- 58380- 8",

series = "Routledge Studies in Critical Realism",

publisher = "Routledge: Taylor \& Francis Group",

}

TY - BOOK

T1 - Educational Leadership and Critical Realism

AU - Thorpe, Anthony

AU - Elonga Mboyo, Jean Pierre

PY - 2025/9/18

Y1 - 2025/9/18

N2 - Adopting a critical realist approach to educational leadership, this book shows how applied theory can contribute to the development of mechanisms allowing for the effective leadership of organisations. Through an examination of pertinent theories and debates in educational leadership and critical realist thought, it moves to offer demonstrations of practical uses of critical realism that include the transformation of reflective practice, the development and practice of leadership, and the formulation as well as the enactment of policy. Considering the role that realist thought can play in the resolution of educational crises in sub-Saharan Africa and bridging the gap between research and practice, the authors argue that change is possible and that it can be initiated from within the field of educational leadership. Centred on a vision of social justice for human flourishing instead of operating within narrow and mechanistic pre-occupations, Educational Leadership and Critical Realism will appeal to scholars across the social sciences, as well as to practitioners and policy-makers in the field of education.

AB - Adopting a critical realist approach to educational leadership, this book shows how applied theory can contribute to the development of mechanisms allowing for the effective leadership of organisations. Through an examination of pertinent theories and debates in educational leadership and critical realist thought, it moves to offer demonstrations of practical uses of critical realism that include the transformation of reflective practice, the development and practice of leadership, and the formulation as well as the enactment of policy. Considering the role that realist thought can play in the resolution of educational crises in sub-Saharan Africa and bridging the gap between research and practice, the authors argue that change is possible and that it can be initiated from within the field of educational leadership. Centred on a vision of social justice for human flourishing instead of operating within narrow and mechanistic pre-occupations, Educational Leadership and Critical Realism will appeal to scholars across the social sciences, as well as to practitioners and policy-makers in the field of education.

KW - Critical realism

KW - Education

KW - Leadership

KW - Management

KW - Policy

KW - professional practice

UR - https://www.routledge.com/Educational-Leadership-and-Critical-Realism/Thorpe-ElongaMboyo/p/book/9781032583808

M3 - Book

SN - 978- 1- 032- 58380- 8

SN - 978- 1- 032- 58381- 5

T3 - Routledge Studies in Critical Realism

BT - Educational Leadership and Critical Realism

PB - Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group

CY - Abingdon, Oxon & New York

ER -

Educational Leadership and Critical Realism

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

Other files and links

Cite this