The Strong State and Curriculum Reform

As Asian education systems increasingly take on a stronger presence, of special interest is how these states direct their schools towards higher achievement. This book presents accounts of constructions of the strong, developmental state witnessed across many Asian societies, and seeks to understand the politics and possibilities of curriculum change situated in the dominance of such a state. Engaging in analyses based on some of the best current social and cultural theories, and illuminating the interactions among various state and non-state pedagogic agents, this volume accounts for the complex post-colonial, historical and cultural consciousnesses that many Asian societies experience.