A Network, a community of practice or a movement for educational change?

This chapter summarises the work of two academics who are today probably the most influential theoreticians on development education. They are Annette Scheunpflug and Vanessa Andreotti d'Oliveria. Andreotti, locates much of her thinking and writing within a postcolonial lens, based on critiques of western liberal and humanist traditions. The chapter suggests that in looking at the potential theories that could influence a pedagogy of development education, theories and ideas from development, globalisation, global citizenship, cosmopolitanism, postcolonialism and transformative learning need to be considered. The development education touches on a myriad of social, philosophical and cultural theories. Developing a pedagogical approach does not mean adopting one or two theories but recognising their role and contribution to a process of learning. Finally, the chapter concludes with a recognition of the importance of pluralism in order to develop a critical pedagogy for global social justice.