Provides a provocative examination of the interplay between political culture and educational policy. The goal is to provide a better understanding of how different countries are responding to the global exchange of policy ideas that includes 'the standards movement' and 'new public management' or accountability in the public sector.

KAREN SEASHORE LOUIS is Regents Professor and Robert H. Beck Chair of Ideas in Education at the University of Minnesota, USA. BOUDEWIJN A.M VAN VELZEN is a Senior Consultant at APS, National Centre for School Improvement in Utrecht, The Netherlands.