This book offers a relevant sample of the current research on Latin American education in comparative perspective. The authors draw from political sociology of education, theories of the state, history of education, and deconstructionist theories to focus on changes for the constitution of the pedagogical subject in public schools.

Introduction: The State and Public Education in Latin America1 -- The Political Economy of Educational Reform in Latin America -- Financing Education for Democracy in Latin America -- Education Policy and Human Development in the Latin American City -- Neoliberal Education Policies in Latin America: Arguments in Favor and Against -- Basic Education in Latin America -- Dewey Under South American Skies: Some Readings from Argentina -- Contemporary Brazilian Education: Challenges of Basic Education -- The Problems of the Decentralization of Education: A View from Mexico1 -- Teacher Education Reform Initiatives: The Case of Mexico -- Higher Education in Latin America: Argentina in Comparative Perspective -- The Paradox of the Autonomy of Argentine Universities: From Liberalism to Regulation -- University Restructuring in Argentina: The Political Debate -- Women, Education, and the State in Cuba -- Popular Education in Latin America: Old and New Dreams -- Freire, Frei, and Literacy Texts in Chile, 1964-19701 -- Popular Education and the Reconstruction of El Salvador.