Theme:
1. Archaeologists and Archaeology Here and Now
Session format:
Round table (without formal abstracts, only list of confirmed discussants / session co-organisers to be provided)
Title:
Populism, Authoritarianism, Autocracy and Other Kids of Neo-liberalism – in Academia and Archaeology
Content:
Currently populism is debated as a political development in many countries. The meaning of the word differs between languages as does its connotation. For this RT, we adopt a formalist definition, considering populism as a style, which produces and uses general moods for its own purposes e.g. by polarisation, personalisation, arguments ad hominem and moralisation. It behaves anti-intellectual, anti-institutional and anti-elitist and claims to implement common sense; sometimes combined with conspiracy theories and an imagery of crisis and break down. Autocracy we take as the uncontrolled rule of an individual person, which is (almost) unlimited by institutional restrictions. The ruler legitimises themself by their perfection and are hardly interested in consent or support by their subalterns.
These and other depraved forms of government seem to be in diametrical opposition to academic governance; explicitly not being based on competition for the better argument and on rationality – let alone predictability, reliability and legitimising institutionalism. But are we too quick ruling out that populism and authoritarianism play a growing role in academic governance? That they do not correspond to academic rules of research does not exclude their influence in governance structures. The neoliberal weakening of academic self-governance seems to foster if not produce a populist and/or autocratic functional elite. And the populist style in politics together with a growing demand for immediate, i.e. monetary „usefulness“ „outreach“ and „transfer“ promote populist production and presentation of knowledge among academics as well. Are such intra-academic populism, autocracy and authoritarianism threats to „proper“ research and academic freedom?
In this RT we want to critically reflect recent developments in academic governance and behaviour all over Europe. We invite short incentive contributions of about 5 mins. for stimulating discussion among participants. Case studies should be anonymised and pay proper respect to each individual's right to dignity.
Keywords:
Populism, Authoritarianism, Autocracy, Neo-liberalism, academic governance, academic freedom
Session associated with MERC:
no
Session associated with CIfA:
no
Session associated with SAfA:
no
Session associated with CAA:
no
Session associated with DGUF:
no
Session associated with other:
Forum Archäologie in Gesellschaft (FaiG)
Main organiser:
Raimund Karl (Austria) 1,2
Co-organisers:
Thomas Meier (Germany) 3,4,2
Staša Babić (Serbia) 5
Affiliations:
1. Universität Wien
2. Forum Archäologie in Gesellschaft (FAiG)
3. Käte Hamburger Center for Apocalyptic and Post-Apocalyptic Studies
4. University of Heidelberg, Institute for Pre- and Protohistory and Near Eastern Archaeology
5. University of Belgrade, Department of Archaeology
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