The Bologna Process and New Modes of Governance: Logics and Limits of Arena-shaping

The Bologna Process is often portrayed as a unique instance of the effective operation of the techniques of the new modes of governance in a pan-European forum. Yet, despite its apparent ‘success’ as a policy model, comparatively little attention has thus far been paid to the process in the Political Science and European Studies literatures. The present paper seeks to contribute to the understanding of this neglected governance dimension of the Bologna Process. The main sections of the paper provide a survey of the underlying political logics of the process; examine the nature and limits of the main policy instruments deployed; and assess the overall scope and limits of participation in the policy arena created. This allows for a final balance sheet to be drawn, suggesting the need for a reconceptualisation of the new modes of governance so as better to account for the strategic positioning of actors within and across different policy arenas.