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In this open access volume, the editors identify the trajecto ries and pat terns displayed by education systems and investigate the causes of change from a global and historical perspective. The contributors argue that the emergence and de velopment of educa tion systems can be traced back to inherent national factors, as well as to the interna tional diffusion of ideas. The research presented in this volume is a wide-ranging analysis and explana tion of the dynamics of emergence, diffusion, and change in relation to state educa tion systems. The chapters offer an empirical investigation into whether the global diffusion of West ern-rational educational content and organizational forms occurs as expected by neoinstitu tionalist theory, or whether culturally specific developmen tal paths dominate in different parts of the world. The book will be of interest to students and researchers in various social science disci plines, including social policy, education, sociology, political science, international relations, organizational the ory, and economics.