Beyond the University System: Low-Cost Research, Low-Cost Researchers, Low-Cost Freedom

Abstract

The article summarizes insider observations of a European “hybrid”—both research- and practice-oriented—institution. It goes beyond scrutinizing managerialism alone as the major source of detrimental effects for scholarly work and academic freedom and questions the role of market pressures by drawing attention to the maintenance of the organization’s symbolic status and legitimacy and to the effects of activity selection in favor of simpler forms of performance. The considered institute and its founders sought visibility in public and thus encouraged short-term and applied projects. The institute’s behavior resembled status rent extraction through the founders’ allocations and on the contribution of external and unpayable partners and guest scholars. The demonstration of activities regardless of their content and outcomes did not require the staff’s research capabilities and qualifications. Employees’ working modes correlated with the treatment of researchers as temporary and replaceable workforce in an insecure position. The management scheme based on the unlimited discretion of the administrative head and the lack of protective mechanisms led to the abuse of power and mistreatment of the staff. Academic freedom in its narrow sense becomes largely irrelevant in this environment. All these patterns are supported by broader societal environment: Academic community and scholars at all career stages seem to increasingly accept and interiorize neoliberal ethos as well as the rules of the game that rest on individual career considerations and individual flexible adaptation to employers’ needs.

Text in English