The Public University as a Real Utopia

This book theorises the public university as a real utopia, drawing upon the work of the American sociologist Erik Olin Wright. The book explores institutional democracy, academic freedom and the curriculum as the real utopian 'constituents' of the public university. In doing so, the author puts forward an argument for the redevelopment of public universities, seeking to do justice to both a radical vision and practical feasibility. This imaginative reconstruction of the university advances debate in the sociology and philosophy of higher education.

Presents a humanistic vision of higher education Reaffirms the importance of academic freedom in thinking about the state of contemporary academia Reorients the university from a knowledge economy to a knowledge society

Auteur

Martin Aidnik is an Estonian sociologist. He is a researcher at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania. His scholarly interests include the philosophy and sociology of higher education and European studies. His work has been published in journals such as History of the Human Sciences, Constellations and Humanity & Society.

Contenu

1. Introduction.- Part I.- 2. Real Utopias.- 3. The Rise and Decline of the Anglo-American Public University.- 4. Culture, Decolonization and Ecology.- Part II.- 5. Institutional Democracy.- 6. Academic Freedom.- 7. Curriculum and Human Development.- 8. Postdigital Higher Education and the Knowledge Economy.- 9. Conclusion.