ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses why textbooks for the teaching of a medium-sized European language like Catalan transmit the same neoliberal worldview that is transmitted in global ELT textbooks. One answer is to be found in the fact that neoliberalism has become the dominant ideology of our times. A second answer can be found in the way that developments in the ELT industry always have an impact on the teaching of other languages. A third answer is found in the educational and foreign language policies which postulate a conception of education that is aligned with a neoliberal agenda. Finally, the uncritical implementation of the trends of the global ELT industry and especially of the recommendations of the Council of Europe without meaningful local variations in the case of the teaching of smaller languages such as Catalan may be due to a kind of insecurity or lack of self-confidence in the contexts in which such languages both exist and are taught. The chapter concludes by suggesting future directions to challenge neoliberalism in language textbooks and in education in general.
