Abstract
Purpose
Our paper has been written in the style of a provocative essay. It starts with the observation that neo-liberalism has become the leading “policy doctrine” in Higher Education (HE) systems across the globe. This has put increasing systemic political and economic pressure on many universities which not only undermine but also “colonize” the Lebenswelt or “lifeworld” (Habermas, 1987) of academics.
Design/methodology/approach
Our essay draws on concrete empirical examples based on our subjective experiences within the higher educational sector and secondary sources.
Findings
We are going to highlight and illustrate how the increasing dominance of “neo-liberal science” principles (Lave et al., 2010) severely damage the quality of knowledge production and working conditions of ordinary academics in both national and international academic communities.
Practical implications
Our essay provides insights into the practical implications of the spread of “neo-liberal science” principles on the work and employment of academics.
Originality/value
We aim to trigger critical discussion concerning how emancipatory principles of teaching and research can be brought back into the Lebenswelt of academics in order to reverse some of the destructive effects to which our essay refers to.
Our paper has been written in the style of a provocative essay. It starts with the observation that neo-liberalism has become the leading “policy doctrine” in Higher Education (HE) systems across the globe. This has put increasing systemic political and economic pressure on many universities which not only undermine but also “colonize” the Lebenswelt or “lifeworld” (Habermas, 1987) of academics.
Design/methodology/approach
Our essay draws on concrete empirical examples based on our subjective experiences within the higher educational sector and secondary sources.
Findings
We are going to highlight and illustrate how the increasing dominance of “neo-liberal science” principles (Lave et al., 2010) severely damage the quality of knowledge production and working conditions of ordinary academics in both national and international academic communities.
Practical implications
Our essay provides insights into the practical implications of the spread of “neo-liberal science” principles on the work and employment of academics.
Originality/value
We aim to trigger critical discussion concerning how emancipatory principles of teaching and research can be brought back into the Lebenswelt of academics in order to reverse some of the destructive effects to which our essay refers to.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 136-150 |
| Number of pages | 15 |
| Journal | Critical Perspectives on International Business |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 May 2017 |
Keywords
- Neo-liberalization
- Colonization of lifeworld of academia
- Precariousness of work and employment in higher education
- Destructive leadership in universities