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S elective acquiescence, creative commitment and strategic conformity: situated national policy responses to B ologna
Author(s) -
Sin Cristina,
Saunders Murray
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1465-3435
pISSN - 0141-8211
DOI - 10.1111/ejed.12072
Subject(s) - acquiescence , metaphor , conformity , politics , political science , agency (philosophy) , situated , reciprocity (cultural anthropology) , sociology , public relations , public administration , social science , law , philosophy , linguistics , artificial intelligence , computer science
The non‐binding nature of the B ologna D eclaration and loose policy‐making and implementation through the open method of coordination ( OMC ) have led to varied national responses to the B ologna Process. The OMC has allowed countries room for manoeuvre to interpret B ologna policy and attach different degrees of importance to it. Looking at the interplay between agency and structure in policy implementation, this article aims to illustrate the localised character of B ologna policy implementation driven by national priorities and political agendas, a reflection of the ‘policy as text’ metaphor (Ball, 1994). The analysis is 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 — E ngland, P ortugal and D enmark, 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 B ologna, motivations behind responses to the Process, as well as its reception and implementation at national level.