Who Controls Education? The Rising Power of Vested Interests in Europe. Cambridge Studies in the Comparative Politics of Education

Overview & Synopsis

Why are interest groups on the march in Europe? How do they become so powerful? Why do reformers struggle with plans to overhaul education systems? In Who Controls Education?, Susanne Wiborg investigates the dynamics of educational interest groups across four European countries: England, France, Germany and Sweden, alongside their counterparts in the European Union. She delves into why some groups wield more power than others and how they gain access to policymaking venues to shape education reforms. The book reveals a gap between reformers' intentions and policy outcomes, often attributed to group politics, with significant consequences for education users, historically a weak organisational group. Wiborg shows that addressing the role of vested interest is crucial for creating an education system where all children benefit. This book: (1) provides insight into how interest groups impact education reform and create a gap between reformer intentions and policy outcomes; (2) introduces the theory of vested interests originating from institutional theory and adopted to education policy studies; and (3) investigates the dynamics of educational interest groups in England, France, Germany, Sweden, and the EU.