THE IMPACT OF THE 'CONSERVATIVE MODERNIZATION' ON THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN CROATIA: THE CONCEPTUAL AND IMPLEMENTATIONAL PRESSURES IN THE PROCESS OF COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULAR REFORM

Abstract

This paper points to different modes of agency that aimed and are still aiming at the transformation of social, political and economic discourse in the direction of 'conservative modernization' in most Western countries. The paper begins with a brief historical sketch of the socio-political circumstances that provided fertile ground for the emergence and development of 'conservative modernization', and continues to further elaborate the concept through the analysis of the categories that draw from works of the Michael W. Apple. The Apple's theoretical apparatus is applied as a 'tool' for the analysis of neoliberal, neoconservative, authoritarian-populist and expert conceptual and implementation pressures in the process of Comprehensive Curricular Reform in Croatia. The concluding section of the paper presents the results of the analysis of conceptual and implementation pressures in the process of Comprehensive Curricular Reform in Croatia.