Richard BatesRichard Bates ( (International Journal ofInternational Journal of Educational Development, Educational Development, 2005): “This is a deeply 2005): “This is a deeply impressive book. Its major achievement is to provide a sophisticated but intelligible account of impressive book. Its major achievement is to provide a sophisticated but intelligible account of liberalism…the scholarship behind these arguments is impressive”liberalism…the scholarship behind these arguments is impressive”

David GoslingDavid Gosling ( (Higher Education ReviewHigher Education Review ,Vol. 38, 1, pp. 76 – 79, 2005): “This ambitious book aims ,Vol. 38, 1, pp. 76 – 79, 2005): “This ambitious book aims to place education policy within a broad framework of political thought….The reader will appreciate to place education policy within a broad framework of political thought….The reader will appreciate something of the scope of the book by appreciating the range of topics that are tackled - - something of the scope of the book by appreciating the range of topics that are tackled - - Foucauldian approaches to critical policy analysis, classical liberalism, social democratic liberalism Foucauldian approaches to critical policy analysis, classical liberalism, social democratic liberalism (including the role of the welfare state), the ascendancy of neoliberalism, and its impact of (including the role of the welfare state), the ascendancy of neoliberalism, and its impact of institutional restructuring, marketisation of education, the discourse of choice, Rawlsian theories of institutional restructuring, marketisation of education, the discourse of choice, Rawlsian theories of distributive justice, communitarianism, globalisation, and democracy”distributive justice, communitarianism, globalisation, and democracy”

Debra AaronsDebra Aarons, (, (Education Review, 2006Education Review, 2006): “It is rare for books with such ambitious scope as this one ): “It is rare for books with such ambitious scope as this one to appear within educational scholarship. The bold project undertaken by a team of prominent to appear within educational scholarship. The bold project undertaken by a team of prominent academics from New Zealand – although Olssen is now based in London – is a very significant academics from New Zealand – although Olssen is now based in London – is a very significant addition to currently available work on education policy”addition to currently available work on education policy”

Brian JonesBrian Jones ( (Citizenship, Social and Economics EducationCitizenship, Social and Economics Education, Vol. 7, 1, pp. 67 – 68, 2006): “The book is , Vol. 7, 1, pp. 67 – 68, 2006): “The book is a a tour de forcetour de force that skilfully, diligently and carefully maps a broad array of theoretical strands, that skilfully, diligently and carefully maps a broad array of theoretical strands, arguments and debates”arguments and debates”

Ian MentorIan Mentor (University of Glasgow, UK): “What this book does with considerable panache is to (University of Glasgow, UK): “What this book does with considerable panache is to deconstruct the dominant ideologies of Third Way and/or neo-liberal politics, as they have impacted deconstruct the dominant ideologies of Third Way and/or neo-liberal politics, as they have impacted on education systems in the developed world”on education systems in the developed world”

Meg McQuireMeg McQuire, (, (Learning for Democracy, Learning for Democracy, Vol. 2, 1, pp. 86 – 89, 2006) “What emerges is an Vol. 2, 1, pp. 86 – 89, 2006) “What emerges is an impressively researched book (excellent bibliography and thoughtful endnotes) which contains an impressively researched book (excellent bibliography and thoughtful endnotes) which contains an engaged discussion of the potential of education and education policy in changing times…This book engaged discussion of the potential of education and education policy in changing times…This book offers a rich, reflexive and multi-disciplinary approach towards complex problems”offers a rich, reflexive and multi-disciplinary approach towards complex problems”

Richard SmithRichard Smith, (, (Access., Access., Vol. 25, 2, pp. 79-82, 2006): “To review a book of this quality I considered Vol. 25, 2, pp. 79-82, 2006): “To review a book of this quality I considered it necessary to undertake some minimal background research. [The] …glowing reviews are indeed it necessary to undertake some minimal background research. [The] …glowing reviews are indeed richly deserved”richly deserved”

Julia PreeceJulia Preece, , International Review of EducationInternational Review of Education, Vol. 51, No’s 2/3, pp. 247-256, 2006): “[The book , Vol. 51, No’s 2/3, pp. 247-256, 2006): “[The book provides a comprehensive review of some major themes in contemporary education policy making provides a comprehensive review of some major themes in contemporary education policy making whilst attempting to offer real alternatives to the neoliberal dilemma”whilst attempting to offer real alternatives to the neoliberal dilemma”

Ramesh Kumar MishraRamesh Kumar Mishra ( (Compare,Compare, Vol. 35, 4, December 2005, pp. 497 – 499): “The book is Vol. 35, 4, December 2005, pp. 497 – 499): “The book is certainly a remarkable achievement in the domain of educational philosophy and has enormous certainly a remarkable achievement in the domain of educational philosophy and has enormous pedagogic values for both practitioners and students”pedagogic values for both practitioners and students”