Twenty-First Century Feudalism in Australian Universities

Abstract

This chapter considers the twenty-first century feudal practices shaping academic life. In poisonous industrial relation environments, academic work is increasingly insecure, research is being stymied and administrative workloads expanding, to the detriment of teaching. Democratic processes have been replaced by an authoritarian management regime ruling from afar and unforgiving of dissenting opinions. While the number of full-time academics is declining and being replaced by sessional appointments because of precarious finances, executive remuneration continues to climb exorbitantly. The neoliberal ideology has transformed the university working for the public good into a new type of enterprise offering private goods for individuals.