Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book maps the phenomenon in the Middle East, highlighting its scale, nature and policy implications. It shows both commonalities and differences with other regions, adding an important component to deepening understanding of the global picture. The book focuses on published literature, supplemented by information obtained through RCEP, and by formal and informal interviews of various kinds. It describes documentation and associated discussion during a regional seminar on private tutoring in Arabic-speaking countries attended by researchers and government personnel. The book deals with global literature on private tutoring and the sociopolitical forces that shape and are shaped by it.