The weak power of Rosa Parks: Caputo and Biesta with(out) Benjamin

This paper explores the pedagogical implications of the concept of ‘weak force’ as developed by John D. Caputo and appropriated by Gert Biesta, tracing its roots to Walter Benjamin’s notion of a ‘weak messianic power’. While Biesta deploys the concept to advocate for an ethically framed, non-instrumental view of education, this paper argues that such an appropriation misinterprets Benjamin’s original, politically charged intent. The comparison is brought into sharper relief through a critical re-reading of Biesta’s account of Rosa Parks, revealing how depoliticization can obscure the radical legacy of both Parks and Benjamin. This essay calls for a re-politicization of educational thought by recovering Benjamin’s revolutionary vision and by recognizing students’ own redemptive capacities.