A dialogue: "Comparative and International Education: An Introduction"

Group Submission Type: Book Launch

Description of Session

Our book captures Comparative and International Education (CIE) at a moment in history when the theories and methods are highly contested and when its practices are undergoing internal and external geopolitical continual change. We have assembled a foundation for further explorations of the field, its debates, and its ongoing transformations by provides the building blocks that shape CIE ethical and professionally.
We examine contemporary reconfigurations of the field, by exploring practices; when, where, and in which global directions knowledge was/is produced and co-produced, as knowledge is shaped and produced continually. We have shared examples that occur at different times and spaces, are oriented in different global directions, and are influenced by multiple geopolitical factors. The structure of the chapters makes it easy to see how practices follow from the histories, the paradigmatic theories, and the research methods of CIE.
We recognize newer collaborations across the regions of the world, such as South-South and South–North, that point not only to new directions but also recognize the interdependence of our educational futures. Topics we covered, are bonds with CIES 2026 conference aim, to advance the goals of global peace, social cohesion, and justice. While the world is still divided with wars raging, our work is starkly in contrasts with the situation of the post WWII divided world in which CIE was configured and flourished into a disciplinary study at schools/colleges of education.
CIE encompasses a diverse set of dilemmas and challenges, which we present in each chapter. This book includes illustrative cases contributed by different scholars. Each writing about their own expertise within CIE, to support and broaden our understanding of the fundamentals. They each include their own reference list for further reading and investigative learning. Methodologically, we remain open to a variety of older and newer ways of knowing, the multifaceted relations among education and social, political, economic, and cultural constructs. This means our book facilitates learning of the field’s various dimensions, and reflects on conflict among the different trends, theories and methods that have historically governed our field.

Some questions this book launch dialog intend to explore are:

1.How do the chapters provide an overall of the foundations of CIE as a discipline and a practice?
2.What are the tensions regarding the theories, methods, and practices separating us as a society of scholars, or do they contribute to a rich exchange and growth?
3.Is CIE taught with some pedagogical exercises that touch upon the book’s theme? We have introduced “Springboards,” a series of pedagogical exercises that accompany each chapter, and hope users will find them enriching the learning experiences.
4.How relevant are the new directions of CIE regarding upcoming themes, such as AI, education for global citizenship, green skills, and green actions, and peace eduction, among others- are there other directions that we should explore?

Teaching, learning and mentoring our future comparativists is very important to us, we seek to lay bare what and how CIE in the 21st century is studied and practiced and where it may be heading

Sub Unit

• Book Launches and Workshops / Book Launch

Chair

• Esther E. Gottlieb, The Ohio State University

Book Launch Presenters

• Esther E. Gottlieb, The Ohio State University

• Radhika Iyengar, Columbia University, climate School

• Matthew A Witenstein, University of New Mexico

Discussants

• Gerardo L Blanco, Boston College

• Matthew A.M. Thomas

• Karen Ross, UMASS Boston

• Chrystal A. George Mwangi, George Mason University

• Caroline Manion, OISE, University of Toronto

• Irving Epstein, Illinois Wesleyan University