Power, Politics, and Higher Education in Southern Africa: International Regimes, Local Governments, and Educational Autonomy
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Power, Politics, and Higher Education in Southern Africa: Interna ...

Chapter 1:  Introduction
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[t]he introduction of the WTO regime, with its binding obligations and drive for progressive liberalization, was certain to introduce major changes in the balance between the internal and external determinants of higher education policy within our countries, strengthening the external at the expense of the internal. (p. 49)

The AAU’s concerns have resulted in the production of two major documents, namely, proceedings from two AAU conferences, which highlight its strategy to face the challenge of possible power limitations. I use these documents as part of the primary sources in this study.

Historically, the WTO results from the agreement between developed and less developed countries to form a new organization that would extend and strengthen the GATT. This regime change follows the demands of less developed countries for a New International Economic Order, which have involved struggles over what international regimes should govern trade in raw materials and manufactures as well as direct foreign investment (Keohane & Nye, 2001). The demands for better governing of trade and the consequent formation of the WTO reflect a globally shared perception between developed and less developed countries of the need for a global regulatory regime to arbitrate on trade matters, thus witnessing to the fact that members agree with the “hegemonic” jurisdiction of the WTO.