Governments and Marriage Education Policy

ELIZABETH VAN ACKER  is Senior Lecturer in the Department of Politics and Public Policy, Griffith University, Australia. She has taught in a range of areas including Australian politics and politics and the media. In addition to marriage and relationship education, her research interests include feminist politics, and industry policies. She is the co-editor of Globalising Government Business Relations.

Introduction: Government and marriage: Strange Bedfellows? PART ONE: CHANGING PERCEPTIONS OF MARRIAGE The Problem of Marriage Tensions within Marriage: Public Institution or Private Choice? PART TWO: MARRIAGE EDUCATION IN THREE LIBERAL DEMOCRACIES The UK: Governments Supporting Children Australia: Government's Shifts in Supporting Marriage and Relationship Education The USA: Governments Promoting 'Healthy' Marriage PART THREE: CHALLENGES FOR GOVERNMENTS Individualism and the Private Sphere Managing the Public Policy Process Conclusions: Reinventing Marriage?