Balarin, M. (2026). The Making and Unmaking of Education Reforms in Countries with Weak States. En: Edwards Jr., D. B., Moschetti, M. C., & Díaz-Ríos, C. M. (eds.) The State and Education in Latin America. Leiden: Brill.

The centrality of the state for education policy analysis is a well-established idea. But many analyses take for granted what appear to be the traits of stronger states, with strong institutions and capacities to define, legitimise and implement policy agendas. Such assumptions are problematic when considering the role of the state in education in Latin America, where state weaknesses are a constant in most countries. This chapter seeks to substantiate this claim and to provide some initial ways forward for considering the influence of state strength on the region’s education policies. It does so through a detailed discussion of the case of Peru. The chapter then offers a tentative comparison between Peru and Colombia that seeks to further understanding of the types of mechanisms through which limited state strength may influence education policy processes.