The Politics of Education: A Critical Introduction

The Politics of Education provides an introduction to both the political dimensions of schooling and the politics of recent educational reform debates.

The book offers undergraduates and starting graduate students in education an understanding of numerous dimensions of the contested field of education, addressing questions of political economy, class, cultural politics, race, and gender. Noted scholar Kenneth J. Saltman introduces contemporary educational debates and seriously considers views across the political spectrum from the vantage point of critical education, emphasizing schooling for broader social equality and justice. With three completely new chapters and updates to existing content, additional updates to the third edition include discussions of technology and digital privatization, the dangers of AI, resilience and social emotional learning, authoritarian populism, the expansion of educational censorship and teacher gags, trans politics, new expressions of colonial and imperial education, the rise of misinformation, climate change, and sustainability.

With opportunities for readers to engage in deeper discussion through Questions for Further Discussion and a Glossary of key terms, The Politics of Education remains a much-needed, accessible primer for Education Policy and Politics courses, providing the critical tools needed to make sense of the current politics of education.

Kenneth J. Saltman is Professor of Educational Policy Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, USA.