The implementation of global ranking rules within countries in transition and their unintended perverted effects : Case study – Romania

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to focus on the adverse consequences, mainly the “naturalisation” of global indicators and principles that may lead to defective national rules that may harm the local academic system, and the manipulations that might be drown up among the academic staff and public. Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical issues are illustrated by the outcomes in Romania particularly as a consequence of the application of the Educational Law since January 2011. Findings – When the global ranking's rules are implemented into national environments, mainly in countries under transition, some perverted effects appear and accompany the fruitful results. Originality/value – The passage from 7 to 9 billion people might be the“knowledge society”, which will transform the individual and the society within the main factor for production, repartition, consumption and stability of living together. Moreover, mankind switched today from the global society to “the interconnected society” (a hypersensitive butterfly effect!). The ranking establishment within universities has become a trend of late. By politic environments they follow up on academic communities.