Bergmann, R, Wall, T, Kjærgaard, A, Elliott, C, Callahan, J, Padan, T, Blasco, M and Robinson, S (2023) Subtle activism: Heterotopic principles for unsettling contemporary academia from within. Organization: the interdisciplinary journal of organization, theory and society. ISSN 1350-5084

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Abstract

Research on academic activism tends to foreground vociferous and explicit forms of activism that pursue predefined political agendas. Against this backdrop, this article proposes that academic activism can take more subtle forms. Writing as an academic activist collective, we unpack what subtle activism might look like within the context of contemporary academia. We use Foucault’s concept of heterotopia to argue that subtle activism can expand the space of what is possible in academia today by experimenting with quietly unsettling norms rather than overtly opposing or rejecting them. We offer a set of principles that might underpin a subtle activist agenda, extrapolated from practices from colleagues and from own activist collective. We hope that these principles may serve to inspire other academics wishing to engage in subtle activism by unsettling everyday practices that discreetly challenge the status quo, thereby contributing to gently shifting the agenda for how it is possible to conduct intellectual work in the contemporary neoliberal university context.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Kjærgaard, A., Bergmann, R., Blasco, M., Padan, T., Elliott, C., Callahan, J., Robinson, S., & Wall, T., Subtle activism: Heterotopic principles for unsettling contemporary academia from within, Organization: the interdisciplinary journal of organization, theory and society pp. xx-xx. Copyright © 2023(Copyright Holder). DOI: 10.1177/13505084231167702 Reuse is restricted to non-commercial and no derivative uses.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	activism; subtle; higher education; business school; change; innovation; creativity; 15 Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services; 16 Studies in Human Society; 22 Philosophy and Religious Studies; Business & Management
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology H Social Sciences > HF Commerce > HF5001 Business
Divisions:	Business & Management (from Sep 19)
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2023 10:43
Last Modified:	02 Nov 2023 12:18
DOI or ID number:	10.1177/13505084231167702
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/19135

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