Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Selective acquiescence, creative commitment and strategic conformity
T2 - situated national policy responses to the Bologna agreement
AU - Sin, Cristina
AU - Saunders, Murray
PY - 2014/12
Y1 - 2014/12
N2 - The non-binding nature of the Bologna Agreement and loose policy-making and implementation through the open method of coordination (OMC) has led to varied national responses to the Bologna Process. The OMC has allowed countries room for manoeuvre to interpret Bologna policy and attach different degrees of importance to it. Looking at the interplay between agency and structure in policy implementation, this paper aims to illustrate the localised character of Bologna policy implementation driven by national priorities and political agendas, a reflection of the ‘policy as text’ metaphor (Ball, 1994). The analysis is mainly driven by an agentic understanding of the policy process, highlighting ‘actors’ perceptions, perspectives, preferences, actions and interactions’ (Trowler, 2002). Three different country reactions are examined – England, Portugal and Denmark – described as selective acquiescence, creative commitment and strategic conformity to capture the essence of the cases in question. In analysing the countries’ responses, the article considers national readings of Bologna, motivations behind responses to the Process, as well as its reception and implementation at national level.
AB - The non-binding nature of the Bologna Agreement and loose policy-making and implementation through the open method of coordination (OMC) has led to varied national responses to the Bologna Process. The OMC has allowed countries room for manoeuvre to interpret Bologna policy and attach different degrees of importance to it. Looking at the interplay between agency and structure in policy implementation, this paper aims to illustrate the localised character of Bologna policy implementation driven by national priorities and political agendas, a reflection of the ‘policy as text’ metaphor (Ball, 1994). The analysis is mainly driven by an agentic understanding of the policy process, highlighting ‘actors’ perceptions, perspectives, preferences, actions and interactions’ (Trowler, 2002). Three different country reactions are examined – England, Portugal and Denmark – described as selective acquiescence, creative commitment and strategic conformity to capture the essence of the cases in question. In analysing the countries’ responses, the article considers national readings of Bologna, motivations behind responses to the Process, as well as its reception and implementation at national level.
KW - Bologna Process
KW - policy implementation
KW - reform
KW - change
KW - national impact
KW - comparative higher education
U2 - 10.1111/ejed.12072
DO - 10.1111/ejed.12072
M3 - Journal article
VL - 4
SP - 529
EP - 542
JO - European Journal of Education
JF - European Journal of Education
SN - 0141-8211
IS - 4
ER -