TY - JOUR

T1 - Unruly practices : what a sociology of translations can offer to educational policy analysis.

AU - Hamilton, Mary E.

N1 - To appear in special issue on Actor Network Theory edited by Tara Fenwick and Richard Edwards.

PY - 2011/12

Y1 - 2011/12

N2 - This paper argues for the utility of ANT as a philosophical and methodological approach to policy analysis. It introduces the key features of a recent educational policy reform initiative, Skills for Life and illustrates the argument by looking at three “moments” (in Callon’s 1986 terminology) in the life of this initiative, applying the theoretical tools of ANT to these. The analysis shows that even (and perhaps especially) within a strongly framed social policy initiative like the Skills for Life Strategy, things constantly escape; that differences held in tension within the “successful” project sow the seeds of failure and dissolution.

AB - This paper argues for the utility of ANT as a philosophical and methodological approach to policy analysis. It introduces the key features of a recent educational policy reform initiative, Skills for Life and illustrates the argument by looking at three “moments” (in Callon’s 1986 terminology) in the life of this initiative, applying the theoretical tools of ANT to these. The analysis shows that even (and perhaps especially) within a strongly framed social policy initiative like the Skills for Life Strategy, things constantly escape; that differences held in tension within the “successful” project sow the seeds of failure and dissolution.

KW - Actor Network Theory

KW - Educational Policy

KW - Reform

KW - Adult Literacy

KW - Skills for Life

U2 - 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2009.00622.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1469-5812.2009.00622.x

M3 - Journal article

VL - 43

SP - 55

EP - 75

JO - Educational Philosophy and Theory

JF - Educational Philosophy and Theory

SN - 0013-1857

IS - Supplement 1

ER -