The round table presentations are based on a collectively- authored book, to be published in 2006 by Verso. The book traces the impact of neo-liberal policy orthodoxy on the education systems of five major West European societies - those of England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. Especially since the 2000 European Council meeting in Lisbon, the effects of this orthodoxy, based on the interaction of the programmes of national governments with the work of international organisations have become stronger. But this orthodoxy is not, as it were, inscribed on blank and receptive surfaces. Its policies interact with national systems which bear the multiple marks of other social interests, and whose histories vary considerably. It combines in varying ways with already-established conservative interests - business, the churches, educational hierarchies and philosophies. It confronts more (France) or less (England) organised opposition that draws from national traditions of educational reform and contestation. It has at its disposal state apparatuses whose competence and effectivity differ markedly from country to country. Thus the neo-liberal agenda, pace the influence of the EU and OECD, takes different forms in different places. But in all cases, across very different national situations, there is one connecting thread: the new agenda has to work to defeat or assimilate the institutions, practices, values and social agents that were formed within an earlier educational order, and were have been shaped by reforming impulses of a markedly different kind from those that presently dominate policy. Drawing from historically-orientated sociological and policy- analytical work such as that of Crouch and van Zanten, the presentations will explore the themes set out above empirically and 'transversally', in relation to 4 topics: Privatization - What is the extent of educational privatization in the different countries? In which sectors is it focused, and why? What are the motivations of privatization, and what is the character of the private interests that are involved in it? What kinds of relationship exist between private interests and the state Decentralization, marketisation and regulation - Decentralisation is a strong feature of education systems in all 5 countries. How is it related to traditional and emergent forms of central state regulation? In what ways is it articulated with processes of marketisation? The remaking of workforces - How does the new orthodoxy impact upon the character of the educational workforce? How does it relate to issues of precarisation, civil servant status, collegiality and professional autonomy? What is the character of the 'modernisation' which it brings to the teaching force? How does 'modernizing' change interact with the generational profile of the workforce? Contestation and resistance. How is the new orthodoxy received in different national contexts? What are the characteristics of the critiques to which policy orthodoxy has been subjected by its opponents, and how do they relate to national educational histories? What is the social force of such critiques? What political and ideological difficulties does opposition face? We wish to request an allocation of 90 minutes for this round table.