Britain was the last major European state to create a national education system and is set to be the first to dismantle it. In this wide-ranging comparative study, Andy Green examines the reasons for the uneven development of public education in England, Prussia, France and the USA.

Introduction - The Uneven Development of National Education Systems - The Social Origins of National Education Systems - Education and State Formation - Education and Statism in Continental Europe - The U.S. Experience: Education, Nationhood and the Decentralized State - English Education and the Liberal State - Conclusion: The Liberal Legacy - References - Bibliography - Index