Leiden University Student Repository

Verhoef, Ivo (2019)

Marketized Education Within Market-Leninism A motor for social mobility or a reproduction of exploitation?

Master thesis | Asian Studies (60 EC) (MA)

In this thesis I examine the interaction between the marketization of education and class in Vietnam and China. I used Marxist class theories in combination with Bourdieuian concepts of class habitus and cultural capital to conclude that marketization of education did not result in changing class relations in Vietnam and China, arguing against Victor Nee’s theory that marketization of education would lead to increased social mobility. Due to marketization the state lost total control over education, however, the new none-state actors and institutions remained subordinate to the state. The dominant class maintained their cultural capital and gained economic capital due to marketization. The working class did not gain the economic and cultural capital needed for access to the marketized education system. This dynamic resulted in a more rigid class divide, making social mobility less likely.

China

Vietnam

Market-Leninism

education

equality

Author

Verhoef, Ivo

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

politics society and economy of asia

Supervisors

London, Jonathan

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en