ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by looking at the formal attempts to use education as a means of political socialisation and the difficulties which such attempts are likely to encounter. It examines some of the main aspects of interaction between various groups of political actors: politicians and those they represent, civil servants, parents and students, headmasters and teachers, private educators and international bodies such as UNESCO, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Bank. To varying degrees politicians have tried to manipulate syllabuses and curricula in order to increase their popular support. This is one aspect of what modernisation theorists call 'nation-building'. The chapter considers the ways in which governments have tried to use education for political socialisation and the limits to this process. Finally, it concerns the decision-making process and the question of who benefits from educational expansion.
