Experimenting with a global panacea: UNESCO’s Fundamental Education programme in China, 1945–1950

The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) was set up in the aftermath of World War II with mandate safeguarding global peace by promoting international intellectual cooperation across national boundaries. UNESCO’s first flagship educational initiative, launched 1946, Fundamental Education programme, which ran until 1958. This article traces role China history this UNESCO project, both terms inspiring initial concept piloting it. author maps out a transnational network concepts, ideas, people, institutions, funds, etc. that shaped programme. Informed scientific experimental methodology, design ambitious initiative to implement long-term, systematic comprehensive schemes addressing illiteracy, public health, civil education livelihood, While actors collaborating project shared some beliefs, their group as whole reflected divergent ideational spectrum, represented multiple interest groups, intertwined local politics. In case interventions designed for China, these circumstances, well challenges post-World reconstruction, Chinese war Cold had effect reducing original small snapshot pilot limited specific subject (“the healthy village”). concludes consideration historical legacy between later decades.