Talkin’ ‘bout a revolution? From quiescence to resistance in the contemporary university

Bowes-Catton, Helen; Brewis, Joanna; Clarke, Caroline; Drake, Deborah; Gilmour, Alison and Penn, Alison (2020). Talkin’ ‘bout a revolution? From quiescence to resistance in the contemporary university. Management Learning, 51(4) pp. 378–397.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1350507620925633

Abstract

In discussing the events leading up to the resignation of the former Open University Vice Chancellor in April 2018, we focus on the enactment of a form of resistance against proposals for the university through a WhatsApp group, enabling rapid information exchange, discussion of tactics and concrete planning for action. We suggest our group – ‘the Hive’ - was unusual because, first, it countered the politically quiescent trend in academia to comply (at least outwardly) with neoliberalisation, and/or only to write about it, as opposed to mounting challenges. Second, the Hive was virtual; comprising various staff categories, including people based off-campus, it operated almost entirely online and many members had never met face-to-face. This for us evokes notions of the multitude. Third, the group exemplifies alternative forms of solidarity and resistance in other ways, being non-hierarchical, highly pluralist and non-exclusionary. Finally, our Hive provided a supportive, caring space for resisters, which we suggest emerged partly through members’ love for the distinctive social mission of The Open University - although our story also provides hope for harnessing similar emotions within other academic institutions.

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