Where the public was always private: Going beyond privatization in/ of/ through education and policymaking in postcolonial contexts

While Ball and Youdell’s typology of privatization in, of, and through education and policymaking represents advancements in the way that privatization is understood, and while this framework is useful for nuancing what is meant by privatization, these concepts should be complemented by additional considerations if they are to be useful beyond descriptive terms. Our main argument here is that it is necessary to consider the foundations and nature of the State if one wishes to grasp the origins, logic, and range of possible ways that privatization manifests in a setting. By focusing on the State—particularly the postcolonial State—we raise the issue of “context.” Drawing on data obtained through interviews, document analysis, and literature review, we further highlight the “ethos of privatization,” a form of privatization rooted in colonial and capitalist relations through which State actors prioritize personal benefit and resource extraction over concern for the provision of quality public services.