Focuses on decentralization as a governance strategy in education and dynamic interactions in the decentralization process. Reviews relevant research and presents some empirical data from Norway and British Columbia. Distinguishes four dynamic processes in decentralized centralism: initiation, content, levels, and simultaneity. (Contains 45…

Drawing on selected literature about education in seven east Asian countries that have shown remarkable economic development since World War II, this paper considers how the nature of the curriculum might have contributed to these nations' economic growth. The systems are highly centralized, with a curriculum component promoting national goals.…

The 19th-century emergence of a centralized, state-controlled school system helped stabilize government and legitimize a state model during a revolutionary period in French history. The centralized model assisted national integration goals by fabricating a symbolic public space. This ambitious political construction may be coming apart. (Contains…

In 1992, the Further and Higher Education Act unified higher education in England, Wales, and Scotland, ending the "binary policy" that sustained two separate sectors with different missions, funding arrangements, and institutional titles. This article explores factors leading to this outcome and some consequences. There was no grand…

Although the Hawke government's general strategy of corporate federalism may dominate educational policy in Australia, higher education (excluding teacher education) is an exception. Because the Commonwealth assumed full financial responsibility for higher education, it has increasingly employed coercive federalism or simply ignored the states.…

Reviews changes introduced to Australian public education over the past decade, comparing them against the "free, compulsory, and secular" education acts implemented in every Australian colony during the late 19th century. The principles and social values underlying the establishment of public education have been significantly eroded.…

Analyzes educational decentralization trends and policies in Argentina and Brazil during 1990s, includes case studies. Discusses historical background and rationales behind "provinicialization" in Argentina and "municipalization" in Brazil; identifies commonalities, including centralization of curriculum and evaluation…

The French school system is changing from a pyramid-like decision-making structure into an organized network of schools linked together through resource-allocation "conventions." This article examines the evolving relationship between these models from the early 1980s, highlighting school autonomy's effects on local politics and…

Analyzes some policy-practice lessons learned from Britain's Technical and Vocational Education Initiative as its influence diminishes. Considers how TVEI affected the culture of teaching, learning, and curriculum in unintentional ways. Although TVEI's social effects have been limited, the program's legacy is evident; education policy that fails…

Globalization, referring to the formation of world systems, embraces finance and trade; communications and information technologies; migration and tourism; global societies; linguistic, cultural, and ideological convergence; and signs and images. Globalization does not negate the nation-state, but it changes its circumstances and makes education…

Britain's 1988 Education Reform Act mandates increased centralization (through a national curriculum and testing program) and greater managerial decentralization and competition between schools. This article discusses the role of the central government Department of Education and Science in requiring local education authorities to implement local…