An active citizen, says the prolific and influential scholar and and teacher Henry Giroux, is "somebody who has the capacity not only to understand and engage the world but to transform it when necessary - and to believe he or she can do that." In this provocative new interview, Giroux speaks with passion and clarity about the inextricable links between education, civic engagement, and social justice. Strongly influenced by Paulo Freire, the Brazilian scholar of progressive education, Giroux advocates for a pedagogy of liberation that challenges inequality, oppression, fundamentalism, and authoritarianism, while developing the critical capacities needed to engage ideas and the world. Essential viewing for teachers and students of education, cultural studies, and communication.