Political Economy of Education

A close look at how decisions are shaped by conflicts within and across political, economic and social institutions and processes.

A study of political economy entails a close look at how decisions are shaped by conflicts within and across political, economic and social institutions and processes. In this course you will explore the political economy of educational issues and understand how struggles between different socioeconomic groups shape the institutions, discourses and practices of education. Education is a contested space and shaped by many social conflicts, and we study this in relation to the Indian context with all its communities, castes and civil society actors. 

The basis of the course is the growth and spread of national education systems that go hand in hand with the evolution of capitalism and modern nation-states across the world. Through an understanding of various political systems, we will trace how educational curricula and processes are created. Finally, the course will create an overview of the neoliberal state in India, political interest groups and ideologies, the basics of democracy, ending with an introduction to the basic of economics.