Social equity and equity in higher education: A comparison of the liberal Anglo-American and Chinese political cultures

Abstract

This study compares the ideas of social equity in the liberal Anglo-American and Chinese political cultures and seeks potential hybridisations. Through a conceptual examination of scholarly works, this study identifies differences and similarities of social equity between the two political cultures. A common conceptual bridge, deriving from the comparison and hybridisation, is further developed for the discussion of social equity and equity in higher education across the two cultures. The common bridge consists of four constitutes of social equity: political and civil equality, social and economic equality, equality of opportunity and equality of potential and freedom to achieve, the last of which is new hybridity of the two political cultures. This study argues that the hybridity – equality of potential and freedom to achieve – is enlightening to the discussion of equity in higher education as well as social equity across contexts.