Policy Press

Affective Capitalism in Academia

Revealing Public Secrets

Edited by Daniel Nehring and Kristiina Brunila

Published

Jan 16, 2023

Page count

256 pages

ISBN

978-1447357841

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jan 16, 2023

Page count

256 pages

ISBN

978-1447357858

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Jan 16, 2023

Page count

256 pages

ISBN

978-1447357858

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Affective Capitalism in Academia

Chapter 9, 'Academy in my flesh: affective athleticism and performative writing', is available Open Access via Bristol University Press Digital.

Drawing on affect theory and research on academic capitalism, this book examines the contemporary crisis of universities. Moving through 11 international and comparative case studies, it explores diverse features of contemporary academic life, from the coloniality of academic capitalism to performance management and the experience of being performance-managed.

Affect has emerged as a major analytical lens of social research. However, it is rarely applied to universities and their marketisation. Offering a unique exploration of the contemporary role of affect in academic labour and the organisation of scholarship, this book considers modes of subjectivation, professional and personal relationships and organisational structures and their affective charges.

Chapter 9 is available Open Access via OAPEN under CC-BY-NC-ND licence.

“This timely book takes the pulse of the current university and showcases, warts and all, its emotional underpinnings. Essential reading for those who care about the future of the university as a critical and independent voice in society.” Mats Benner, Lund University

Daniel Nehring is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Swansea University.

Kristiina Brunila is Professor of Social Justice and Equality in Education at the University of Helsinki, where she directs the research centre AGORA for the Study of Social Justice and Equality in Education.

1. Introduction: Academic capitalism and the affective organisation of academic labour - Kristiina Brunila and Daniel Nehring

Part I: Structures

2. The Labour Pains of Academic Capitalism in Crisis - Lew Zipin and Marie Brennan

3. Deepened Coloniality, Heightened structuralism: Implications for Intellectual thought and praxis in the Caribbean - Talia Esnard

4. Academic patriarchal (post)liberal capitalism - Demetra Tzanaki

Part II: Relationships

5. The storytelling and storyselling of neoliberal academic work - Kenneth Mølbjerg Jørgensen and Paola Valero

6. Exploring the Academic and Affective Leadership in Academia - Kristiina Brunila

7. Friendship in academia: the moral economy of academic work - Erika Andersson Cederholm, Carina Sjöholm and Dianne Dredge

8. What doesn’t kill you makes you weaker: An uncanny story of contemporary academic life - Mark Vicars

Part III: Performance

9. Academy in my flesh: Affective athleticism and performative writing - Silvia Gherardi, Michela Cozza and Magnus Hoppe

10. Getting Texts Done: Affective Rhythms of Reading in Quantified Academia - Juhana Venäläinen

11. Performance Management: Western Universities, Chinese Entrepreneurs, and Students on Stage - Amir Hampel

12. What’s the point? A few thoughts instead of a conclusion - Daniel Nehring and Kristiina Brunila