The Role of the State in Educational Decentralization : Theoretical Enquiry by Chinese Scholars

This paper provides an integrated review of multidisciplinary perspectives and research on educational decentralization in China over the past five years. Drawing on the distinction between functional decentralization and territorial decentralization, it offers an overall assessment of domestic works and trends in subliteratures covering the public school reforms, private education, rural basic education and school systems. In each area, diverse approaches to the role of the state and their findings will be critically reviewed. Finally, it advocates for a more integrated, structure-oriented and contextualized theorizing in the further research agenda on this issue.