This article explains why there are so few world-class universities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region today. It first summarises the systemic exogenous economic, political and social problems facing all countries in the region, and the impact of these on the development of their higher education sectors in recent times. Then, with…

The flight of human capital is a phenomenon that has been of concern to academics and development practitioners for decades. Unfortunately, there is no systematic record of the number of skilled professionals that many African countries have continued to lose to the developed world. Termed the "brain drain", it represents the loss of…

In this article, William Ayers constructs his Phil Smith Lecture as a call to action. Grounded in democratic principles of equality and social justice, the author invokes a liberal conception of human worth and the universal right to educational opportunity. The author critiques the passivity of the American polity in the face of Barack Obama's…

The author decries the tactics of one-issue pressure groups seeking to censor sex education and other educational activities. He sees these groups as an anti-intellectual force attacking the free exchange of ideas, which is the major purpose and function of schools in a democracy. (SJL)

A high school student discusses symptoms of Americans' lack of interest in pursuing their dreams. The American dream has been replaced for many by the need for financial security. The decline of the American dream is reflected in our political leadership and in the decline in importance of intellectual pursuits. (RM)

The two biggest educational issues facing China are critical and related--how to provide for equality of educational opportunity and how to maintain an intellectual community that is both "red" and expert. (Author/IRT)

Outlines developmental stages and pendulum pattern of educational policy in People's Republic of China, employing a political influence framework. Attributes pendulum pattern to ups and downs of the radical and the moderate group. Each has its own background, goals, resources, and strategies. The radicals are egalitarian but anti-intellectual; the…

After explaining the anti-science impact of the "Gang of Four," the author reports on the National Science Policy Conference held in Peking in March, 1978. In summarizing major speeches and the proposed eight-year development plan, he emphasizes the renewed feelings of liberalism and confidence among Chinese scientists. (SJL)

The author reviews the changes in China's educational policy since the downfall of the "Gang of Four," emphasizing the nation's return to stricter academic standards and credentialing. (SJL)

What is the task of educators at a time when mainstream American culture is increasingly characterized by a declining interest in and misgiving about national politics? How one answers this question will have a grave impact not only on higher education but on the future of democratic public life. There are no simple solutions says author Henry…