Universities and the long arm of neo-nationalism

Abstract

Neo-nationalism and Universities, a collection of essays edited by John Aubrey Douglass, explores the effects of the global phenomenon of neo-nationalism on the behaviors, roles, and values of major universities. The book's contributing authors, diverse and seasoned voices in higher education, illustrate how nationalisms of the past have taken on new configurations, ranging from nascent populism to autocratic regimes, across contexts such as the U.S., UK., Hungary, Poland, Turkey, China, Russia, and Brazil. Through grounded national and pan-national examinations, the chapters shed light on how neo-nationalist parties and leaders have domesticated universities, weaponized science, and curtailed dissent to service their respective political and ideological agendas. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this book is that universities, despite the malleability of their missions, should function as responsible stewards of knowledge and promote the common good while maintaining the dignity of free persons. While broad in its scope, the book could have been more holistic and pluralistic in its analysis of neo-nationalism by better incorporating Third World perspectives and trends.