When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong

This article examines the politics of school-based management (SBM) in Hong Kong, with a specific focus on the conflicts between the state and three Christian churches (Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist) running state-funded religious schools. Although the state based its advocacy for SBM on neolibe...

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Main Authors: QIAN, Junxi, KONG, Lily
Format: text
Language:English
Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2018
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Online Access:https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2356
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/3613/viewcontent/When_Secular_Universalism_Meets_Pluralism_Religious_Schools_and_the_Politics_of_School_Based_Management_in_Hong_Kong.pdf
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spelling sg-smu-ink.soss_research-36132017-12-14T00:36:57Z When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong QIAN, Junxi KONG, Lily This article examines the politics of school-based management (SBM) in Hong Kong, with a specific focus on the conflicts between the state and three Christian churches (Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist) running state-funded religious schools. Although the state based its advocacy for SBM on neoliberally driven ideas of participation, transparency, and accountability, religious groups expressed worry about the loss of control over schools as an institution of value transmission anchored in religious beliefs. This article uses the SBM controversy as a case study to advance geographical debates on religious schools and argues that neoliberalism forms a necessary lens through which to examine the state–religion relations concerning religious schools. It offers an analytical framework that emphasizes the mutually constitutive relationship between religious schools and state building. It lends evidence to this argument by situating religious schools in the context of neoliberalization of education policies and arguing that faith-based sensibilities create new vectors of resistance to neoliberalism as a distinctive secular formation. The empirical analyses address three questions. First, we develop a detailed analysis of the discourses and rationalities upheld by the Hong Kong government and the churches. Second, we consider interactions and exchanges between the state and the churches, focusing on the assertions, negotiations, and concessions that both needed to make in a prolonged struggle over the decision-making process. Third, we reflect briefly on the aftermath of the passing of SBM to situate the churches' concerns in a broader context of neoliberal education policy. 2018-05-01T07:00:00Z text application/pdf https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2356 info:doi/10.1080/24694452.2017.1372175 https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/3613/viewcontent/When_Secular_Universalism_Meets_Pluralism_Religious_Schools_and_the_Politics_of_School_Based_Management_in_Hong_Kong.pdf http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Research Collection School of Social Sciences eng Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University contingent neoliberalism education Hong Kong religious school school-based management Asian Studies School Psychology Social Influence and Political Communication
institution Singapore Management University
building SMU Libraries
continent Asia
country Singapore
Singapore
content_provider SMU Libraries
collection InK@SMU
language English
topic contingent neoliberalism
education
Hong Kong
religious school
school-based management
Asian Studies
School Psychology
Social Influence and Political Communication
spellingShingle contingent neoliberalism
education
Hong Kong
religious school
school-based management
Asian Studies
School Psychology
Social Influence and Political Communication
QIAN, Junxi
KONG, Lily
When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong
description This article examines the politics of school-based management (SBM) in Hong Kong, with a specific focus on the conflicts between the state and three Christian churches (Catholic, Anglican, and Methodist) running state-funded religious schools. Although the state based its advocacy for SBM on neoliberally driven ideas of participation, transparency, and accountability, religious groups expressed worry about the loss of control over schools as an institution of value transmission anchored in religious beliefs. This article uses the SBM controversy as a case study to advance geographical debates on religious schools and argues that neoliberalism forms a necessary lens through which to examine the state–religion relations concerning religious schools. It offers an analytical framework that emphasizes the mutually constitutive relationship between religious schools and state building. It lends evidence to this argument by situating religious schools in the context of neoliberalization of education policies and arguing that faith-based sensibilities create new vectors of resistance to neoliberalism as a distinctive secular formation. The empirical analyses address three questions. First, we develop a detailed analysis of the discourses and rationalities upheld by the Hong Kong government and the churches. Second, we consider interactions and exchanges between the state and the churches, focusing on the assertions, negotiations, and concessions that both needed to make in a prolonged struggle over the decision-making process. Third, we reflect briefly on the aftermath of the passing of SBM to situate the churches' concerns in a broader context of neoliberal education policy.
format text
author QIAN, Junxi
KONG, Lily
author_facet QIAN, Junxi
KONG, Lily
author_sort QIAN, Junxi
title When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong
title_short When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong
title_full When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong
title_fullStr When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong
title_full_unstemmed When secular universalism meets pluralism: Religious schools and the politics of school-based management in Hong Kong
title_sort when secular universalism meets pluralism: religious schools and the politics of school-based management in hong kong
publisher Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University
publishDate 2018
url https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/2356
https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/soss_research/article/3613/viewcontent/When_Secular_Universalism_Meets_Pluralism_Religious_Schools_and_the_Politics_of_School_Based_Management_in_Hong_Kong.pdf
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