Giroux, H. (2008). The Militarization of US Higher Education after 9/11. Theory, Culture and Society vol.25 (5): 56-82 DOI: 10.1177/0263276408095216
While this article is somewhat dated, 2008, we are currently experiencing a portion of the fall out from what Giroux calls for. This article is a qualitative examination of the legitimacy and political crisis, Giroux feels, is in higher education today. Giroux claims higher education has compromised itself by working with government, military, corporate and private interests. This working with the military/government/private interests, Giroux ascertains, undermines the university as a site of criticism, dissent and critical dialogue.
There is a great deal of rhetoric in this article many may find objectionable. However, for the purposes of this blog I am focusing on the avocation of removing what has become essential funding sources to Higher Education.
Over the last several years the cost of attending a University has been steadily growing. This has been caused by the cut backs in funding from the entities Giroux would like to see removed from Higher Education. Compounding this is the increased costs in operating a University. While in some institutions salaries have been frozen there is still the cost of everything from electricity to office supplies to janitorial supplies. Buildings need to be maintained, the grounds of the institution addressed and vehicles/machinery maintained. Every nut, bolt and pencil has a cost attributed to it and every year the cost grows with inflation and the market demands for the resource used needed.
As a result of the lessening of financial support from the aforementioned entities we are seeing an increasing cost for students to attend any form of higher education. In Colorado we saw a 15% increase in tuition. Should this dangerous trend continue education will quickly become affordable by only the wealthiest aspects of our society thereby denying the majority of the population of it's greatest social equalizer. Furthermore, if economic indicators prove true, the rate of long term economic progression will continue to be slow and eventually stagnate as the United States loses it's competitive edge, an educated professional population.
I recognize the current fiscal situation of the states and federal governments are dreary and cuts need to be made however, education is not the place to make those cuts. An educated populace not only increases economic outlook but promotes democracy as people are more able to ascertain, apply critical thinking and address social and political issues which affect their daily lives.
Giroux’s article clearly alludes to the political and legitimacy crisis that higher public institutions are facing in the context of a neoliberal state.
ReplyDeleteAs we recently discussed in class, the neoliberal state focuses on individuals and corporations and is characterized by building a “new” economy based on knowledge and information technology.
According to Slaughter & Rhoades, the theory of academic capitalism explains why the new global knowledge or information society calls for a new relationship between higher education institutions and society and how colleges and universities are integrated in this new economy.
The neoliberal state assumes that the welfare state is inefficient, bureaucratic and cannot provide sustainable outcomes, therefore neoliberalism institutes “ processes of deregulation, commercialization, and privatization”. However, its benefits are distributed among upper middle classes and upper classes. The neoliberal state is attempting to absorb all colleges and universities.
I concur with you that democratic values need to be instilled to provide equal access to all. In order to do that we must continue to advocate that public higher education institutions remain unaltered by neoliberal state policies.