The OECD's Education Agenda: Balancing Limited Membership, Global Reach, and Domestic Interests in Latin America

Abstract

Global dynamics are becoming more prominent in education policy discussions, with the OECD standing out as a major player in the global education policy arena. Despite its selective and limited membership, the OECD’s reach and influence extend across the globe. This paper explores this paradox through an analytical review that bridges the field of education policy to the broader panorama of global governance, examining factors related to the growing involvement of Latin American countries with the OECD’s education agenda. Delineating the organization’s history and expansion strategy, as well as domestic drivers for membership and participation, this article examines the complex interplay between globalization, international mechanisms of norm diffusion and soft power, national interests, and internal politics. It concludes by outlining the multidimensional game that links institutional reasons, international dynamics, and domestic motivations with the appeal of organizations such as the OECD and its education initiatives in the Latin American region.