On Academic Capitalism in the Age of Neoliberalism - Thanes Wongyannava

On Academic Capitalism in the Age of Neoliberalism
By Thanes Wongyannava

"In this era, age is not just a number—your entire life is a number."

This provocative assertion by Thanes Wongyannava is far from hyperbole. In a world where human value is increasingly reduced to fiscal metrics and performance indices, this book offers a profound investigation into "Academic Capitalism" and the pervasive influence of Neoliberalism on the modern condition.

Neoliberalism has evolved beyond a mere economic policy; it has become a way of life—a logic that recalibrates state administration, decentralizes power to erode labor unions, and transforms the university into a sophisticated engine of capital. Wongyannava explores how this shift reshapes our very conception of the "entrepreneur," the artist, and the innovator.

The global enthusiasm for Neoliberalism, fueled by the promises of Globalization and the ideology of unending Growth, has made the dream of individual wealth the ultimate hope. Yet, in this pursuit, the vital concerns of Income Distribution and Social Inequality have been relegated to the periphery.

Key Inquiries Explored in This Volume:

The Market vs. The Public Good: Do academic institutions serve the needs of society or the demands of the marketplace?

The Pedagogy of Class: How does socioeconomic status dictate future outcomes, and what role does education play in cementing this divide?

The Teleology of Ambition: Why are we culturally conditioned to obsess over the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?"

The Research Factory: Why the relentless pressure for academic overproduction? Unpacking the link between research volume, funding acquisition, and university rankings.

State-Sanctioned Capitalism: An analysis of why governments funnel public funds into private enterprise, featuring case studies of Chile and Latin America as the foundational laboratories of the Neoliberal experiment.

"Since the 1980s, the mission of the academic institution has undergone a radical metamorphosis: from the cultivation of the Citizen to the engineering of the Innovative Economic Man. Under the expansion of Neoliberalism, National Innovation Systems have become the flagship projects of wealthy nations. Concurrently, the 'Knowledge-Based Economy' emerged as the dominant model, positioning the university as a primary driver of economic engine rather than a sanctuary of thought."

— From Chapter 1: Neoliberalism, the University, and STEM


// Table of Contents //

1. Neoliberalism, the University, and STEM

2. Unequal Education within the Nation-State

3. Neoliberalism: The Entrepreneurial University and Academic Capitalism

4. Neoliberalism: From Agency to New Public Management (NPM)

5. Communities, Human Resources, and the Neoliberal State

6. The Entrepreneur and the Revolution of Artistic Production and Innovation

7. From ‘Neoliberalism’ to ‘Post-Neoliberalism’ and Back Again

8. Epilogue: Nearly Half a Century of Neoliberalism


Details
▪️Format : Paperback
▪️Piyavit Tepumnuaysakul : Editor-in-Chief
▪️Sittiwat Ruangpongsatorn : Editor
▪️Designed by ● SM STUDIO | Chirawat Rotaim ●
▪️Published : March 2023
▪️Length : 296 pages
▪️ISBN : 978-616-562-051-2
▪️Dimensions (in) : 5.25 x 8.25
▪️Price : 350 THB