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Neoliberalism in European Higher Education Policy: Economic Nexus and Changing Patterns of Power and Inequality

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European Higher Education and the Internal Market

Part of the book series: Issues in Higher Education ((IHIGHER))

Abstract

In this innovating chapter, Streckeisen introduces a new analytical frame to neoliberalism. Drawing on sources as diverse as Polanyi, Foucault, Bourdieu, and Marxism, he describes three forms of economic nexus in European higher education policy: the power of the economy, the power of economic ideas, and changing patterns of power and inequality. Focusing on four analytical levels (system, institution, profession, and the student body), Streckeisen argues that neoliberalism does not come to universities only from the outside, as a threat by external powers. He shows which actors and institutions within academia are on the winner side, and insists on growing inequalities between higher education institutions as well as inside the student body, torn between conflicting functionalities of mass and elite education.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Social Work, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Zurich, Switzerland

    Peter Streckeisen

  2. Sociology Seminar, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Peter Streckeisen

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  1. Peter Streckeisen
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Correspondence to Peter Streckeisen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in Higher Education Policies (CIPES), Matosinhos, Portugal

    Cristina Sin

  2. Centre for Research in Higher Education Policy (CIPES), Matosinhos, Portugal

    Orlanda Tavares

  3. Centre for Research in Higher Education Policy (CIPES), Matosinhos, Portugal

    Sónia Cardoso

  4. Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal

    Maria J. Rosa

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Streckeisen, P. (2018). Neoliberalism in European Higher Education Policy: Economic Nexus and Changing Patterns of Power and Inequality. In: Sin, C., Tavares, O., Cardoso, S., J. Rosa, M. (eds) European Higher Education and the Internal Market. Issues in Higher Education. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91881-5_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91881-5_3

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-91880-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-91881-5

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