A conceptual framework for understanding juridification of and in education

• Published in: Journal of education policy Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 822 - 842
• Main Authors: Rosén, Maria, Arneback, Emma, Bergh, Andreas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 2021
• Subjects: Courts; Education; education law; education policy; Educational Policy; Equal Education; equal treatment; Foreign Countries; Juridification; Pedagogik; Power Structure; School Law; Sweden; Scandinavia; Sweden
• ISSN: 0268-0939; 1464-5106; 1464-5106
• DOI: 10.1080/02680939.2020.1777466

The legal framing of national education systems has been subject to substantial change in the past decade, especially in Nordic countries. Earlier research has called for better understanding of the implications of these changes which, in turn, points to a need for conceptual development. With an emphasis on legal and education scholarly work, this article explores concepts for further research on juridification in relation to education. This is done through an abductive process of inquiry, in which interpretations of the concept of juridification developed in previous research are explored in relation to changes in Swedish education policy on the area of equal treatment. We distinguish conceptually between juridification of and in education and propose a conceptual framework based on six dimensions of juridification, contributing to a view of policy as both formally regulated and enacted by education actors at different levels. This conceptual framework opens up new directions for further research in different areas and contexts.