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Article
The Power Brokers of Neoliberalism: Philanthrocapitalists and Public Education
Policy Futures in Education (2017)
  • Marta P Baltodano
Abstract
Since the 1970s business groups have staged the control of education, first in the form of partnerships with schools and universities to support science, math, and technology, and more recently in the form of venture philanthropy. This article examines how these business groups, including the “billionaire boys club” and their mega foundations, have become the power brokers of neoliberalism and have gained influential control over educational policies and other cultural spaces in the United States. Using the strategies of institutional capitalism, these venture philanthropies are using public money to lobby legislators and school districts to enact school choice friendly legislation, expand the proliferation of charter schools, and negatively shape social perceptions about public education.
Keywords
  • Charter schools,
  • neoliberalism,
  • school reform,
  • venture philanthropy
Disciplines
Publication Date
2017
DOI
10.1177/1478210316652008
Citation Information
Baltodano, M. (2017). The Power Brokers of neoliberalism: Philanthrocapitalists and Public Education. Policy Futures in Education, 15(2), 141-156. doi: 10.1177/1478210316652008