"This book represents an original and innovatory series of insights, ideas and questions concerning inclusive education and cross-cultural understandings. Drawing on historical and cultural material, policy developments, legislation and research findings, the book provides a critical exploration of key issues including inclusive education, human rights, change, diversity and special educational needs. How these are defined and experienced within particular societies is a key focus of consideration. Contradictions, ambiguities, complexities and differences within and between societies are identified and discussed. Each contributor offers some insights into their own developments and struggles in the pursuit of inclusive thinking, values and practices. Overall, the book enriches our existing knowledge and understaning and provides a stimulus for further work of a conceptual, theoretical and empirical form, concerning this fundamentally important topic of cross-cultural perspectives on inclusive education. It is essential reading for policy makers, students, teachers and researchers."--p. 4 of cover.