Education in a Globalized World: The Connectivity of Economic Power, Technology, and Knowledge

The seemingly amorphous phenomenon we call globalization involves concrete realities that make it a major source of social change in our contemporary world. Seeking to bring globalization alive for students, this text uses examples and perspectives from economics, technology and mass media to show how globalization is producing unprecedented impacts on education and culture. Education at all levels - from primary school to university education - is undergoing a world-wide transformation of its objectives, values and practices. New technologies and communication practices have promoted the West’s optimism that market forces can replace the former governmental responsibilities for social welfare and the inclusion of diverse cultures. New emphasis on competition, quality control, parental choice, marketing, and the linkage of education to work means that schools all over the world face innovations and challenges to established practices. Meanwhile, the world-wide expansion of entertainment and advertising media convey notions of individualism and consumerism that are changing definitions of gender and solidarity among social groups. This volume offers an introduction to these complex changes, recognizing the role of the state while explaining new forces like transnational corporations and non-governmental organizations. The author points to governmental and school policies that can actively shape the future of education at a time of rapid change.