The emergence of a paradigm: the biological turn in education

This opening chapter outlines the emergence of a new global policy paradigm in education, which positions human biology, particularly the brain and genetic make-up, at the heart of policy discourse, soft governance tools, pedagogical practices, and social interventions. By critically examining these developments, this chapter highlights the different articulations that underpin this paradigm and situates them within an analytical framework that attempts at bridging multiple disciplines, including education science, sociology, political science, history, and economics. The chapter guides readers through the paradigm's historical roots, ongoing construction of its framing, global diffusions, and policy applications. Finally, the chapter provides a roadmap for the book's structure and summarizes its key findings, offering a transdisciplinary lens to assess the paradigm's transformative implications for education policy and its role in shaping future educational landscapes.