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Politics of social partnerships: a framework for theorizing.

Authors :
Seddon, Terri
Billett, Stephen
Clemans, Allie
Source :
Journal of Education Policy. Mar2004, Vol. 19 Issue 2, p123-142. 20p.
Publication Year :
2004

Abstract

This paper considers the politics of neo-liberal reform of education and training in the specific context of social partnerships. Social partnerships are hybrid social spaces formed when a range of interests/partners work together for mutual benefit. Partnerships are one of a series of hybridized social spaces which have been formed as a consequence of the trend to neo-liberal governance. The paper begins by situating the study of social partnerships in wider concerns about neo-liberal reform and politics. It reviews literature on social partnerships as a way of identifying the different approaches to the conceptualization of conflict or practical politics. These are role conflict, interest conflict, and regime conflict. It also draws on a series of empirical research projects on social partnerships in Australia which have identified persistent points of tension within partnership formation and maintenance. Drawing these conceptualizations and persistent points of tension together provides a framework which can guide systematic inquiry of social partnerships. The paper suggests that this framework facilitates research by naming different types of political action. It encourages a multi-dimensional analysis of partnership politics rather than presenting partnerships as either a celebratory or categorical expression of neo-liberal political rationality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
02680939
Volume :
19
Issue :
2
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Journal of Education Policy
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
12735751
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/0144341042000186309