State Governance and Japanese Education: Neo-liberal education policy and the practise of resistance

This thesis moves beyond the dichotomy of analyzing normal and abnormal behavior in Japanese education, and shows that individual experiences in education need to be more thoroughly investigated. Being part of formal education means confrontation with existing forms of knowledge that clash with individual social practices. Although there is a strong argument to be made against the ability to practice resistance in an increasingly neo-liberal environment, this thesis shows the opposite. It is possible to differentiate between complete resistance to the expectations that accompany education and more subtle ways of resistance. In fact, all the respondents in this study have shown some form of resistance and consequently, a reconfiguration of individual behavior. This can be resistance to existing language practices, or a complete rejection of anything associated with being Japanese. This thesis shows that there is a space for resistance in Japanese education that extends well beyond...Show moreThis thesis moves beyond the dichotomy of analyzing normal and abnormal behavior in Japanese education, and shows that individual experiences in education need to be more thoroughly investigated. Being part of formal education means confrontation with existing forms of knowledge that clash with individual social practices. Although there is a strong argument to be made against the ability to practice resistance in an increasingly neo-liberal environment, this thesis shows the opposite. It is possible to differentiate between complete resistance to the expectations that accompany education and more subtle ways of resistance. In fact, all the respondents in this study have shown some form of resistance and consequently, a reconfiguration of individual behavior. This can be resistance to existing language practices, or a complete rejection of anything associated with being Japanese. This thesis shows that there is a space for resistance in Japanese education that extends well beyond teachers’ classroom practices and into students’ individual behavior. Most importantly, the analysis gives a clear example of how resistance against the neo-liberal economization of the individual can be practiced, and is already being practiced in the framework of Japanese education.Show less

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State Governance and Japanese Education: Neo-liberal education policy and the practise of resistance