Principles of transversality in globalization and education

This chapter sets out the principles of transversality in globalization and education that underpin the contributions in this book. These principles are derived from the oeuvre of the French theorist and activist, Félix Guattari. For too long, Guattari has been overshadowed by his co-author, Gilles Deleuze, with whom he wrote four major works, as well as publishing at least a dozen or more on his own or with other authors. Furthermore, Guattari did not lead the life of an isolated scholar, or reclusive academic. Indeed, he traveled extensively to Brazil, Japan, Poland, and Mexico, for example, and made it plain that he wanted his theories to work practically and in real situations, to really make a difference. There is then a political, social, and applied edge to Guattari’s transversality that makes it absolutely relevant to the many ways in which globalization impinges upon and can negatively transform educational practice today. Even though Guattari was writing between the 1960s and 1990s, it is the conviction of this book that the principles that can be derived from his concept of transversality are timely, critical, and in need of extensive exploration and elaboration in order to make inroads into the unfolding, contemporary global educational landscape. In sum, it is argued in this chapter that Guattari’s transversality could be included in the central theoretical architecture of the field of globalization studies in education, due to the crucial link to activism which it provides.