The new tools of the science trade: contested knowledge production and the conceptual vocabularies of academic capitalism

Abstract

Over the last three decades, scientists at research universities have responded in a wide variety of ways to the pressures of academic capitalism. Institutional research has under theorised this trend by assuming entrepreneurialism passively follows formal organisational change. In contrast, I treat academic capitalism not as a fait accompli but as a complex field characterised by contested knowledge production. An increased emphasis on knowledge capitalisation does not necessarily displace traditional academic values, although it may, but it has facilitated the diffusion of conceptual vocabularies that are retooling scientific culture and practice at the centre and margins. These vocabularies are (1) market‐oriented entrepreneurialism, (2) external consulting work, (3) consumer‐oriented research, and (4) interdisciplinarity. Their impact is diffuse across units, but involves processes of group and individual adoption, adaptation or resistance, as the case may be. Their local flavour varies by research domain, level and type of university embeddedness, and epistemic identity.

Thinking science with thinking machines: The multiple realities of basic and applied knowledge in a research border zone

“…This reorientation has created formal and informal pressures on academics to produce knowledge products that have industrial relevance, are 'translational', are patent-worthy, span disciplines, or can be moved quickly from 'bench-to-bedside' (Hoffman, 2011;Moore et al, 2011;Slaughter and Rhoades, 2004). A good deal of management scholarship identifies conditions that ease the transfer of academic knowledge to industry (e.g.…”

Is Consumer Culture Theory research or realpolitik? A sociology of knowledge analysis of a scientific culture

“…Empirically, individual academic culture is furthermore experienced as being in danger because of a de‐professionalization of academic life and new managerial values, characterized by the two tendencies of ‘academic entrepreneurialism’ (Etzkowitz, ) and ‘academic managerialism’ (Deem and Johnson, ). Academic entrepreneurialism is seen as a result of changed university‐industry relations, in which corporations are increasingly involved in universities, influencing research topics, methods, and the culture of the university (Hoffman, ). Academic managerialism refers mainly to a changed distribution of power in universities.…”

‘Third mission’ activities, commercialisation and academic entrepreneurs

“…In sum, commercialisation – and the wider processes of academic capitalism in which it is embedded – is having important transformative effects on the contemporary public university, giving rise to new opportunities for academics and new ways of being an academic (Hoffman 2011). In giving rise to new conceptions of virtue in the university, commercialisation has introduced a new ‘hero’ into the university story: the academic entrepreneur.…”