ABSTRACT

The forces of economic and social globalization except substantial influence on policy rationales are used to promote expansion of educational access. In the United States, state governments and the federal government respond to global economic competition by promoting access and privatization of universities as a neoconservative market argument. The chapter discusses the challenge of reducing educational inequality and refocusing on social justice in a global perspective, and considers social forces and organizational barriers that merit attention to inform future policy studies in the field of higher education. The development of private for-profit higher education in the United States has further complicated global competition for students. Public service projects have become subject to business-oriented control mechanisms in most public universities, with increased pressure for these activities to pay their own way and to generate revenue to support central administrative services. The chapter concludes by encouraging critical thinking about how global context should be considered when interpreting policy studies.