Critical consciousness represents the analysis of inequitable social conditions, the motivation to effect change, and the action taken to redress perceived inequities. Scholarship and practice in the last two decades have highlighted critical consciousness as a key developmental competency for those experiencing marginalization and as a pathway for navigating and resisting oppression. This competency is more urgent than ever given the current sociopolitical moment, in which longstanding inequity, bias, discrimination, and competing ideologies are amplified. This volume assembles leading scholars to address some of the field's most urgent questions: How does critical consciousness develop? What theories can be used to complement and enrich our understanding of the operation of critical consciousness? How might new directions in theory and measurement further enhance what is known about critical consciousness? It offers cutting-edge ideas and answers to these questions that are of critical importance to deepen our critical consciousness theory and measurement.

‘Critical consciousness is the antidote for oppression. In a time when hate groups and oppressive laws are on the rise, a book on critical consciousness is desperately needed. The editors and authors of this volume all center our current sociopolitical context and provide unique perspectives for understanding critical consciousness.’

Carlos Hipolito-Delgado - University of Colorado Denver, USA

‘Over the past decade, the rise of important activist movements such as Black Lives Matter, #Metoo, #NoDAPL, Never Again MSD, and others have contributed to deepening interest among scholars about how critical consciousness develops, particularly in young people who have been at the forefront of so many of these movements. This book does a tremendous job of soliciting the perspectives and insights about critical consciousness development from both leading and emerging scholars and, in so doing, establishes a powerful foundation for expanding and amplifying this research focus on critical consciousness going forward.’

Scott Seider - Boston College, USA