Globalization, new modes of governance and educational challenges: A comparative review

Abstract

The meaning of the word globalization is unknown to all of us, though everyone believes they know it. However, what people mean by globalization differs dramatically from one person to the next. As simple a concept as it may appear to be, it actually comprises a minefield of meanings. It is commonly accepted that globalization is both a theory and a process. Although the theory of globalization is relatively recent, the process is not. The idea of the world community being transformed into a global village is not new, and as the major formal agencies for conveying knowledge, the schools are significant in the process and theory of globalization. Globalization has become a key idea for business and it has found a central place in academic debates, but more importantly, it has turned into an issue for discussion in education. We must bear in mind that the subject itself is controversial, that there are constant developments concerning this area, and that globalization affects nations in different ways, depending on their receptivity to supranational forces.