National Development and the World System: Educational, Economic, and Political Change, 1950-–1970

The work "National Development and the World System: Educational, Economic, and Political Change, 1950–1970" by Meyer and Hannan explores how formal education systems have been instrumental in national modernization and economic prosperity. It posits that schooling is a primary means of fostering citizens with equal rights and responsibilities.1

The book examines the expansion of government-sponsored education globally during the 20th century, noting that educational systems became a key agency for creating citizens. This perspective suggests that schools have disseminated modernity worldwide, influencing economic growth and individual talent development. The study also touches upon the broader context of development theory, which emerged in the 1940s to understand and promote capitalist economic development and political stability in newly independent nations, often in contrast to Soviet influence.12