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Disruption; systems theory; cultural theory

This collected volume aims to generate a concise theoretical presentation of the "perturbation principle" in the humanities and the natural sciences. Incorporating findings from natural scientific research, the contributors attempt to take further steps along the way to a general "theory of perturbation."

In contrast with other works on the history of language learning and teaching, this book is innovative in assigning a much more important role to practice and to the reciprocal relationship of policies and practice (rather than investigating top.down processes from policies to practice). The 14 contributions highlight various contexts of language education in the 20th century, combining inside.out ('emic') perspectives, drawing on teachers'/learners' experience within the classroom, and outside.in ('etic') perspectives, looking at external factors such as the curriculum or education policies and considering how teachers and learners respond to these. Each chapter starts from one perspective, yet at the same time takes into account the reciprocal effects between the two directions of movement (inside.out / outside.in). This volume asks, how has the practice of language learning and teaching been influenced by policies and context – and vice versa?