Playing to lose in the international arena: the curious case of the Bologna process

Thesis

This thesis discusses two cases of countries voluntarily going against their material interests at the international stage. By focusing on Albania and Lithuania, it strives to uncover the motivations for participating in the Bologna process, even when lacking the means to compete, and benefit from this policy agenda.

The Bologna Process is part of a broader paradigm shift that has transformed the way education is understood, measured and governed. It coordinates joint efforts across Europe to promote mobility, by demanding that governments remove national barriers to the free movement of students. However, although removing state protectionism in the education sector increases competition, leading to winners and losers, the losing countries have chosen to remain loyal to this cooperation, and refrain from voicing their discontent.

This behaviour does not comply with rational choice theories, which assume actors to be utility maximisers. Similarly, European integration theories do not provide compelling answers to this research puzzle. Thus, I approach it from a constructivist perspective, explaining actors’ preferences from the standpoint of the ‘logic of appropriate behaviour’. Furthermore, this study is process-oriented, seeking to shed light on how global agendas travel to and within national contexts. Close attention is paid to how soft governing tools are employed to manufacture consent, as well as to the path-reproducing mechanisms, which increase the costs of switching to more efficient alternatives.

Methodologically, this thesis uses Political Ethnography, which grants privileged access to the losers’ worldview, allowing us to unpack how they understand and interpret their role and identity. Congruently, through a myriad of sources and a combination of research methods, such as observation, in-depth interviews and documentary analysis, I explain what motivates some nations to seek membership in the ‘international society’, whatever the costs.

Authors: Shabani, E

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-44nxnjage
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: European policy; Higher education; rational choice; political ethnography; Europe; Bologna process
• Subjects: Higher education policy in Europe