This paper aims to analyse Europeanisation and European integration processes in higher education from the neo-Gramscian perspectives, especially at times of economic crisis. I argue that notwithstanding the tangible problems created by the crisis, it is more likely that the integration efforts will be locked-in, if not enhanced.
Despite Europeanisation and integration in higher education, diversity of national education systems can be explained by multiplicity, adaptability and absorption traits of neoliberalism and the variety of economic systems they belong to. There is no one version of the neoliberal capitalist system. Hence, there are no reasons to expect that Europeanisation and the effects of the crisis in the higher education sector would be identical across the board. On the contrary, it will reflect the specific constellations created by the web of actors, their ideas and interests, and slightly distinct capitalist configuration, i.e. version of the growth regime, identifiable in different countries under these multifaceted processes. The crisis does not only provide opportunity for actors to realign, but also to reinforce their positions and pursue their agenda, arguing that necessity of such actions is required by the crisis itself.
This paper will show that actors operating at all levels share similar ideational outlook on the role and purpose of higher education as means for promoting economic growth and competitiveness which is augmented by their relative position within the system. In the neo-Gramscian terminology, they belong to the hegemonic neoliberal capitalist paradigm, and have similar views in regards to achieving economic growth. The neoliberal ideational position of the key actors involved in the higher education processes can be traced in the official documents and analysis of expert interviews that reveal deep hegemonic structures. The paper contributes to the advancing understanding of pervasiveness of neoliberalism in the European integration processes in higher education.
