This book analyses selected critical concepts of policy and practice in educational leadership in five European countries. The editors and contributors cover Croatia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Denmark and Norway, spanning a wide geographical region as well as diverse historical and political contexts. The analyses primarily consider the issues of convergence and divergence in local educational leadership policies and practice that are developing and emerging from traditional structures and discourses under global, trans-national and regional influences. Focusing on both the macro and micro levels, this book examines a range of topics including international benchmarking, inclusive education practices and digital transformation. It will be of interest and value to scholars of educational leadership in Europe, particularly within smaller countries.

Todays local educational leadership policies and practice are connected with the historical roots of five small European countries. In the analysis, perspectives from within each country and comparisons are used interestingly. Both levels of analysis bring out new understandings of the relationship between policy and practice and how they have been related to leadership in a historical discourse. In my opinion the different country chapters and the comparisons represent important new knowledge and I recommended the book as reading for school leaders and policy makers in the field of educational leadership.

 Professor Olof Johansson, Umeå University, Sweden 

The book fills a gap in the research of cross-national research, comparing school leadership issues in two Balkan countries, Croatia and Slovenia, one Baltic country, Lithuania, and two Scandinavian countries, Norway and Denmark. To my knowledge it is the first time there has been this sort of cross-investigation of commonalities and differences in school leadership conditions between these countries in the age of globalization. I am sure that many scholars and practitioners can benefit from this book and hereby recommend it.

Associate Professor Emeritus Klaus Kasper Kofod, Aarhus University, Denmark

Lejf Moosis Professor Emeritus in educational leadership at Aarhus University, Denmark. 

Nik¨a Alfireviis Professor of management and Assistant Professor of sociology at the University of Split, Croatia. 

Jurica Paviiis Professor of marketing at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. 

Andrej Korenis Professor of leadership and theories of organisation at the International School for Social and Business Studies, Slovenia. 

Ljiljana Najev aija is Assistant Professor at the University of Split, Croatia. 

1. Introduction to Discourse and Systems of Educational Leadership in Europe, Lejf Moos.- Part I: Country Reports.- 2. Leading Educational Institutions in Croatia: Stuck Between Ambition and Bureaucracy?, Nik¨a Alfirevi, Maja Mihaljevi Kosor, Lena Male¨evic Perovic.- 3. Global Education Trends and the National Leadership Context: The Case of Slovenia, Andrej Koren and Mateja Brejc.- 4. Three Decades of Lithuanian Education: Self-Identity, Achievements, and Challenges, Rasa Nedzinskaite-Maciuniene, Agne Brandisauskiene, and Inga Minelgaite.- 5. Denmark Report: Educational LeadershipBetween Two Discourses, Lejf Moos.- 6. Country Report: NorwaySchool Leadership Conceptions Bowing to Global Isomorphism, Jan Merok Paulsen.- Part II: Thematic Chapters.- 7. The Role of International Benchmarking in the Convergence/Divergence of European Education, Maja Mihaljevic Kosor, Jurica Pavicic, and Nik¨a Alfirevic.- 8. The Challenge of Digital Transformation in European Education Systems, Nina Begicevic Rede p, Marina Klacmer Calopa, and Katarina Tomicic Pupek.-  9. The Role of E-Learning and Information Culture in Educational Institutions in Transforming European Education,  Sirje Virkus, Valentina Kirinic, and Nina Begicevic Rede p.- 10. Towards an Identification of Critical Success Factors for European Inclusive Education, Ljiljana Najev Cacija, Nik¨a Alfirevic, and Sanja Juric.- 11. Discourses of School Leadership Traveling Across North European School Systems, Jan Merok Paulsen and Lejf Moos.- 12. Discussion: The Space for Manoeuvre Between Autonomy and Autocracy, Lejf Moos.