ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the tendency of populist leaders to decry those who pursue science, arts and the humanities as elites, and intellectuals as enemies of the people. Given deteriorating conditions in higher education (HE), I propose a revised curriculum for placing the social foundations (philosophy, history and sociology) at the core of graduate programmes in educational leadership. This is to prepare students to take part in civil society by understanding why they and others in organisations and the wider society do what they do. First, Arendt’s plea for understanding of Self and Others frames this pedagogical approach to graduate studies. Her exploration of totalitarianism suggests conditions which today make populism possible. Second, this approach examines HE in the context of persistent neoliberalism that promotes business and technical studies at the expense of the humanities and foundations and thus corporate interests over human well-being. Third, it addresses institutional and community leadership to inspire current and future administrators to lead, listen to others, and act knowledgeably within the public sphere.
