# 5.3 Scholar activism: An interview with Carolyn Kagan

The term ‘scholar activist’ is used to describe academics who take an explicitly political standpoint in their work. These academics use their work to address the big problems of society, for example, inequality and exclusion. They have an explicit social change agenda and engage in activities like influencing policy or public opinion, or taking part in different forms of social activism (e.g. protest).

Listen to the following short interview, where Carolyn Kagan outlines what it means to be a scholar activist in relation to her own work in liberation psychology. She talks about the importance of including scholar activism in her teaching with students and how universities should use their resources for the betterment of society.

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OpenLearn - Social psychology and politics
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