The politics of education reform in the Middle East : self and other in textbooks and curricula [Book review]

Abstract

Samira Alyan’s, Achim Rohde’s and Sarhan Dhouib’s (2012) edited volume The Politics of Education Reform in the Middle East: Self and Other in Textbooks and Curricula comprises an analytic discussion of major trends, scope and limitations of education reform in the Middle East and North African (MENA) countries. This is attempted by discussing findings of case studies on select reforms and an analysis of textbook deployment in a number of MENA countries. In terms of genre, the book’s discussion critically engages with educational and policy reform as well as teaching methods and materials to build on and expand the existing body of research…contribute to the political and scholarly debates… (take) stock of major trends in the area of school education and textbook development…(and) (assess) the scope and the limits of educational reform initiatives undertaken in recent years…with an eye towards the dynamics of identity politics reflected through representations of ‘Self’ and ‘Other’… (Rohde & Alayan, 2012, p. 6).