EDUCATION, NEOLIBERALISM AND SUBJECTIVITIES: NECESSARY INTERFACES

Abstract

This article aims to reflect on the implications of neoliberal rationality in Brazilian society, with emphasis on the transformation of education into a commodity under the logic of capital. The theoretical foundation focuses on authors such as Harvey (2008), Mascaro (2013), and Dardot and Laval (2016), who discuss neoliberalism as a discursive hegemony that alters subjectivities and redefines the role of the State. Methodologically, this is an exploratory study with a qualitative approach, which analyzes the state reforms in Brazil from the 1990s onwards and the role of the business community in education. The results indicate that the State has gone from being an executor to a regulator of public policies by promoting public-private partnerships and encouraging the commodification of education. Neoliberal rationality imposes a "governance of subjectivities", guiding individual conduct according to principles of competition and efficiency. The business community assumes a central role in education in order to promote values such as employability and entrepreneurship, moving away from the conception of education as a social right. It is concluded that neoliberalism re-signifies education as a commodity, weakening its humanitarian character. Resistance to this rationality requires critical awareness and political engagement, especially in the educational field, to claim education as a public good.