This introductory chapter discusses the concept of the American
Dream, which can no longer be kept within national borders. It
first looks at the opportunity bargain, where the role of the
state is limited to making opportunities for people through
education. It studies the competition for jobs, as well as
globalization in Asia. It also reveals that people are forced to
depend on a job market that is unable to cope with the rising
tide of political, individual, and social expectations. The
chapter ends with a section on how America can create a new
opportunity bargain. Oxford Scholarship Online requires a
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