Naslov
Pathways of knowledge transfer: transplantation of neoliberal social care system into Croatian context

Autori
Miljenović, Ana ; Knežević, Mladen

Izvornik
European Journal of Social Work (1369-1457) 18 (2015), 4; 613-630

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
knowledge transfer pathway ; social care system ; neoliberal reform ;

Sažetak
Croatian social work has been opened to insights from other countries from its very beginnings, and especially after the 1990s during the transition period. Intensive reforms started after 2000 when foreign actors had significant influence on various reforms in almost all major public systems, including the system of social care. This paper provides an insight into the “life course” that certain knowledge and ideological composition passes through from its introduction and implementation to creation of certain outputs. As an example, we will use the reform of the social care system in order to make a critical reconstruction of the transmission of neoliberal ideas in the social care system during two waves of reforms. We divided this pathway into 4 stages: (1) preparation of territory—consisting of an insight into the need for reform, the current social discourse and existence of legitimising ideological and financial factors ; (2) the mechanism of translation—consisting of a certain methodology that is used for translation of knowledge within the national context and relevant actors who perform this process ; (3) reception stage or operationalization of ideas in a particular context where certain discourse is adapted and actors prepared ; (4) stage of product placement—where a certain outcome is created, and often with the emergence of hybridity (in this case of the social care system, the hybridization occurred with respect to the ruling orientation toward profession, the legal framework and the concrete practice of social work). Finally, in this paper we present two important dimensions for understanding transplantation of knowledge packages—(1) factors that legitimate the need for and content of certain ideas, and (2) the emergence and implications of hybrid forms of practice that may arise as a result of resistance to change, from an expression of openness toward change, or from expression of unreadiness for the change.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Socijalne djelatnosti

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