Is there one global culture of schooling, or many national and local cultures? Do educational reforms take school systems on diverging or parallel paths? These case studies from five continents use ethnography and history to challenge the sweeping claims of sociology's world culture theory (neo-institutionalism). They demonstrate how national ministries of education and local schools re-invent every reform. Yet the cases also show that teachers and local reformers operate 'within and against' global models. Anthropologists need to recognize the global presence in local schooling as well as local transformation of global models. This is a collection that scholars in the field of the anthropology of education will not want to be without.

This book examines the shifting portrayal of the nation in school textbooks in 14 countries during periods of rapid political, social, and economic change. Drawing on a range of analytic strategies, the authors examine history and civics textbooks, and the teaching of such texts, along with other prominent curricular materials—children’s readers, a required text penned by the head of state, a holocaust curriculum, etc.. The authors analyze the uses of history and pedagogy in building, reinforcing and/or redefining the nation and state especially in the light of challenges to its legitimacy. The primary focus is on countries in developing or transitional contexts. Issues include the teaching of democratic civics in a multiethnic state with little history of democratic governance; shifts in teaching about the Khmer Rouge in post-conflict Cambodia; children’s readers used to define national space in former republics of the Soviet Union; the development of Holocaust education in a context where citizens were both victims and perpetuators of violence; the creation of a national past in Turkmenistan; and so forth. The case studies are supplemented by commentary, an introduction and conclusion.

"The categories commonly mobilized to think about education have long been associated with the notion of the nation state, and functioned as obstacles, rather than resources, for our understanding of how globalization plays out in this particular field. In the last two decades, both social theory and comparative politics have attempted to overcome these limitations in their own way. Social theory increasingly acknowledged education as a global phenomenon. Theories have been developed to describe a global society evolving across borders. They show how, through processes that remain debated (cultural isomorphism, capitalism, functional differentiation), a number of structural and semantic evolutions have spread across education systems. Part I of this Handbook is dedicated to presenting, discussing, and comparing three such theories of globalization and their implications for our understanding of education and education policy. Comparative politics has for its part concerned itself with developing a more complex, less unified and 'transformationalist' view of the State by acknowledging the fragmentation and distribution of its functions among distinct domains and levels. Part II gravitates around this global constellation, with chapters focusing on global reforms, norms and ideas put forward by supranational organizations, on international accountability processes and on the ways in which nation states or local actors adopt, implement or resist global ideas and reforms. The two Parts reflect these disciplinary approaches to the relation between globalization and education. Together, these two approaches seek to provide a comprehensive overview of how globalization and education interact to result in distinct and varying outcomes across world regions"--

This innovative new handbook offers a comprehensive overview of the ways in which domestic education policy is framed and influenced by global institutions and actors. Surveys current debates about the role of education in a global polity, highlights key transnational policy actors, accessibly introduces research methodologies, and outlines global agendas for education reform Includes contributions from an international cast of established and emerging scholars at the forefront of the field thoughtfully edited and organized by a team of world-renowned global education policy experts Each section features a thorough introduction designed to facilitate readers’ understanding of the subsequent material and highlight links to interdisciplinary global policy scholarship Written in an accessible and engaging style that will appeal to domestic and international policy practitioners, social scientists, and education scholars alike

Continuing Joel Spring’s reportage and analysis of the intersection of global forces and education, this text offers a comprehensive overview and synthesis of current research, theories, and models related to the topic. Spring introduces readers to the processes, institutions, and forces by which schooling has been globalized and examines the impact of these forces on schooling in local contexts. Designed for courses on globalization and education, international and comparative education, educational foundations, multicultural education, and educational policy, the text is written in a clear narrative style to engage readers in thoughtful consideration of topics discussed. Each chapter includes "Key Points" that summarize the content and suggest issues and questions for critical analysis, discussion, and debate.

Joel Spring’s American Education introduces readers to the historical, political, social, and legal foundations of education and to the profession of teaching in the United States. In his signature straightforward and concise approach to describing complex issues, Spring illuminates events and topics and that are often overlooked or whitewashed, giving students the opportunity to engage in critical thinking about education. In this edition he looks closely at the global context of education in the U.S. Featuring current information and challenging perspectives—with scholarship that is often cited as a primary source, students will come away from this clear, authoritative text informed on the latest topics, issues, and data and with a strong knowledge of the forces shaping of the American educational system. Changes in the 17th Edition include new and updated material and statistics on economic theories related to "skills" education and employability the conflict between a skills approach and cultural diversity political differences regarding education among the Republican, Democratic, Libertarian and Green parties social mobility and equality of opportunity as related to schooling global migration and student diversity in US schools charter schools and home schooling

This open access book consists of 39 short essays that exemplify how interactions between inter- and trans-national interdependencies and domestic factors have shaped the dynamics of social policy in various parts of the world at different points in time. Each chapter highlights a specific type of interdependence which has been identified to provide us with a nuanced understanding of specific social policy developments at discrete points in history. The volume is divided into four parts that are concerned with a particular type of cross-border interrelation. The four parts examine the impact on social policy of trade relations and economic crises, violence, international organisations and cross-border communication and migration. This book will be of interest to academics and postgraduate students in the field of social policy, global history and welfare state research from diverse disciplines: sociology, political science, history, law and economics. .

Democratizing educational access and building capacity in developing countries and amongst indigenous peoples in developed countries may be elusive but are hopeful goals. Many developing countries are striving to reengineer their incoherent education systems at a time when they are most vulnerable, particularly with susceptibility to natural disasters, political unrests, and economic instabilities (UNESCO, 2007). Similarly, indigenous peoples in developed countries are seeking more control over education as they consider the long?term effects of educational policies that have been forced on them. Research on education and social change in developing countries has a long history (Glewwe, 2002; Hanushek, 1995; Sider, 2011). However, there is limited research on educational capacity?building in developing countries such as Kenya, Honduras, Haiti, Ghana, Hong Kong, India, Peru, China, and Thailand. Further, the educational frameworks by which Indigenous peoples (M?ori, Canada’s First Nations, and American Indian/Alaska Natives) have been educated have some significant similarities to those encountered in developing countries. The compilation of chapters illuminates research and collaborative initiatives between the authors and local leaders in developing countries’ and Indigenous peoples in developed countries’ efforts to solve the complexity of social inequities through educational access and quality learning. The authors draw on theoretical lens, knowledge bases, and strategies, and identify trends and developments to provide the scope of educational improvement in a globalization context (Brooks & Normore, 2010; Jean?Marie, Normore & Brooks, 2009).

This book provides robust insights into the current policies, trends, challenges and possibilities in the internationalisation of higher education in East and Southeast Asian countries, revealing emergent and new models and practices in this area, and discussing implications for mutual learning across different education systems. Drawing on case studies from Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and other parts of China, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Japan, this volume addresses emergent and less-heard perspectives on and experiences in the internationalisation of higher education. By detailing, comparing and contrasting the key aspects of internationalisation across countries in Asia and the West, it discusses the implications for mutual learning across different higher education systems. Through practical case studies, this book brings to light the voices and experiences of researchers, who are studying core and new issues, opportunities and challenges facing the internationalisation of higher education in East and Southeast Asia. East and Southeast Asian Perspectives on the Internationalisation of Higher Education is a must-read text for practitioners, international education policy makers and advisors at the national and institutional levels. It will also be of interest to academics, researchers, administrators, students of international and comparative education courses, as well as anyone researching the internationalisation of higher education or looking to learn more about what internationalisation could look like in the future.

The global trend in educational participation has brought with it a cross-national consequence: the expansion of students with "special needs" (SEN) placed in special education and the growth of "low achieving" students diverted to vocational tracks. This book explores the global expansion of special and vocational education as a highly variable event, not only across nations of considerable economic, political and cultural difference, but between nations with evident similarities as well. The Global Convergence of Vocational and Special Education analyzes how the concept of secular benevolence underscores the divergent and convergent trajectories that vocational and special education have taken across the globe. The authors embrace national differences as the means to observe two dicta of comparative research: similar origins can result in very different outcomes, and similar outcomes can be the result of very different origins.