Anthropology and Education Policy Research: Concepts, Approaches, and Tensions

Abstract

This chapter provides a contemporary overview of anthropology and education policy research. Assuming little to no prior knowledge of the field by readers, the authors start with a brief overview of anthropological history and concepts. They then move on to the heart of the chapter: a presentation of key concepts, tensions, and approaches in the anthropology of education policy. Next, they present extended examples of ongoing research projects carried out by Hopson and Levinson, followed by Sandler’s and Koyama’s reflections on those projects in light of their own approaches. In this section, they aim to demonstrate the larger importance of situating ourselves and our intentional ways of engaging anthropologically beside the conceptualization and conduct of such work. Finally, in their conclusion the authors reflect on where the field has been, how it might be strengthened, and where it might be going.

Keywords: anthropology; ethnography; education policy; politics; knowledge production