This edited volume provides a critical discussion of globalization and transformation, considering the cultural contexts of early childhood education systems as discourses as well as concrete phenomena and 'lived experience.' The book focuses on theoretical explorations and critical discourses at the level of education policy (macro), the level of institutions (meso), and the level of social interactions (micro). The chapters offer a wide range of interpretative, contextualized perspectives on early childhood education as a cultural construct.

Autorentext

Stefan Faas is Professor in Social Pedagogy at the University of Education Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. His research is focused on early childhood education, family and parent education, and transformation research as well as internationalization of education and social support.

Dagmar Kasüschke is Professor of Early Childhood Education at the University of Education in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany. Her research areas are cultural and gender studies, history, pedagogy, and teaching in early childhood education.

Elena Nitecki is Associate Professor in the Department of Early Childhood and Childhood Education at Mercy College, USA. Her scholarly research interests include various topics in early childhood education, teacher preparation, and the impact of the Global Education Reform Movement.

Mathias Urban is Desmond Chair of Early Childhood Education and Director of the International Centre for Early Childhood Research at Dublin City University, Ireland. He works on questions of diversity and equality, social justice, evaluation, and professionalism in working with young children, families and communities in diverse socio-cultural contexts.

Helge Wasmuth is Associate Professor in the Department of Early Childhood and Childhood Education at Mercy College, USA. His scholarly research interests include the history of, and postmodern perspectives on, early childhood education, as well as the impact of the Global Education Reform Movement on early childhood education.

Inhalt

1. Globalization, transformation, and cultures - Theoretical notes and perspectives on reconceptualization and international comparison in Early Childhood Education and Care
2. The contribution of cultural studies to early childhood education discourses and research3. Dimensions of International Comparison in Early Childhood Education and Care - Theoretical notes4. (E)Utopia: the local, the global and the imaginary in early childhood Education5. GERM and its Effects on ECEC: Analyzing Unintended Consequences and Hidden Agendas6. A cultural-historical analysis of "Childhood" and "Early Childhood Education" in contemporary Iran7. Understanding culturally specific pedagogy and practices within Swedish Early Childhood Education and Care8. Doing Ethnicity? The representation and negotiation of cultures in ECEC as an unexplained research task9. Peer Culture and Mealtimes with Toddlers in a Child Care Context: "Put your bowls on the table. It's not a toy"10. "We do not make angels here" Secularism in Norwegian kindergartens11. A social justice perspective in early childhood teacher education12. "After lunch we offer quiet time and meditation" Early Learning Environments in Australia and Finland Through the Lenses of Educators13. Teachers' Involvement in Their Designed Play Activities in a Chinese Context14. Professionalization and change - recognition of qualifications, educational processes and competencies in Germany