Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents the case for a sociology of education in its own right and demonstrates the multi-faceted perspectives that influence the sociology of education, considering in particular the how and what of such a field of enquiry. It explains the growth of a global political economy in education from its earliest inception in the eighteenth century. The book considers some of the Marxist and neo-Marxist critiques of neoliberalism. It describes whether a universal model of education is possible, if indeed desirable. The book highlights the tension between international policy, which promotes inclusive education as a human right, and the challenge of including learners with profound intellectual impairments in the current neoliberal education system. It offers a fresh and at times challenging account of the role the sociology of education in understanding complex human systems and institutions in the field of education.