Includes bibliographical references and index.

Table of contents: -- Introduction -- Historical background and the theoretical model -- From the Middle Ages until industrialisation -- The theoretical model -- The role of education and teaching in the state-building process -- Education and state-building processes : political ideas and social theories -- The history of state education systems: from reformation to modernity -- Reformation: state v. church -- The establishment of state bureaucracy -- Professionalisation -- Education and the citizen -- Examples of the use of education and science in state-building processes -- Great Britain: a success that became a burden -- France : the pros and cons of centralism -- Poland : integrating the state through education -- Conclusion -- Human capital and knowledge in economic theory -- Human capital, technological advancement, and economic growth -- Controversies over state policy recommendations for education and science : the market and the state -- State innovation systems and competitive advantages -- The concept of competitive advantages in education and science -- State innovation systems -- Knowledge in the era of the third industrial revolution -- Education, knowledge and the global value chains -- The impact of education and science on economic development in market economies -- Germany : efficiency that astounded and frightened -- Japan : from avoiding colonisation to challenging the greatest superpower -- Critiques of the commodification of knowledge and abilities -- Conclusion -- International distribution of power and state strategies -- International distribution of power in education and science -- Primary and secondary education -- Higher education -- Scientific research -- Research, development, and applications -- Examples : strategies of select states in education, science, and innovation -- The United States : a global magnet -- Europe : multiple models between internal competition and cooperation -- The Republic of Korea and Singapore : educational miracle in conditions of high coordination -- Case study : China : change in progress -- Conclusion -- Factors : governance, institutions, norms, transnational regimes -- Transnational regimes as a level of governance -- The role of international comparisons : governance by numbers -- The Pisa study as an example of transnational regime -- The peculiarity of the OECD and its role in educational policy -- The Pisa study and state policy -- Pisa as a set of norms and rules -- The impact of the Pisa study on state policy -- Conclusion.