comparative politics final - politics for education

what is ethnic fractionalization?

the degree to which a country’s population is divided into multiple ethnic groups

consequences of high ethnic fractionalization?

associated with lower economic growth, weaker public goods, lower access to patronage and foreign aid, lower trust, less civil peace, less democratic stability, and poorer governance

functions of the state

taxation, defense/policing, economic management, human capital (health/education), welfare state, and infrastructure

different tastes argument

different groups prefer different types of public investments, reducing agreement on policy

emotional returns argument

politicians get emotional/social benefits from favoring co-ethnics, causing ethnic favoritism

electoral returns argument

politicians reward core ethnic supporters for electoral gain

segregation

groups live apart, by either minority choice or majority imposition

assimilation

cultural and behavioral differences disappear as groups merge

integration

barriers to full participation are removed; groups interact equally in society

multiculturalism

multiple groups remain culturally distinct while still supporting the state

political violence

public use of force for political goals (revolutions, civil war, ethnic violence, terrorism, riots, coups)

what political violence does not include

international wars, state executions under law, and private/domestic violence

civil war

war inside a country with at least one side being the government

rebel or guerrilla violence

non-state violence against the state to seize power or secede

ethnic violence

violence between groups based on ethnic identity

genocide

state-led violence intended to eliminate a whole group

terrorism

non-state violence against civilians for political goals

riots

violent acts by crowds

electoral violence

violence during campaigns or after elections

nation-building approach to reducing violence

state attempts to create a more homogeneous identity

propaganda

biased information to shape public opinion or behavior using emotion, simplification, selective truth, and mass communication

parents goals for education

provide children with useful skills and knowledge

businesses goals for education

support economic growth and technological progress

governments goals for education

create good citizens, legitimize the state, promote cohesion, and maintain peace

before the 19th century education

mostly provided by families and religious groups

what does education for skills produce?

economic growth, poverty reduction, social mobility, income equality, technological progress

what education for values teach?

citizenship, national identity, obedience, and political ideology

how are education policies driven?

elite-driven

democratization theory

democracy expands schooling because new citizens demand access; leads to better quantity and quality of education

industrialization theory

economic elites push for mass education to create skilled workers for industrialization; demand grows as technology becomes more complex

nation-building theory

education is used to teach a common language, build national identity, and promote loyalty

state-building theory

education expands to teach obedience to the state; schools and teachers act as state agents and enforce national language