The transition from party/state to open democracy: The role of education

Abstract

One common characteristic shared by the countries of the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe was the manner by which education in the party/state was expected to provide ideological cohesion. Today the challenge of cohesion has changed. No longer does a single party monopolize the state apparatus; religious worship is now practiced freely; and central-administration has diminished. Today individuals have a wide choice of occupations, unrestricted travel, and freer access to international information. What have these changes meant for education? The article responds to this question, and is divided into five parts. The first tries to identify unique characteristics about education under the Party/State. The second summarizes the changes which have occurred so far in the transition. The third outlines additional changes which may be required. The latter sections describe the influence of the transition on the economic arguments surrounding education and finally on Comparative Education generally.