From Homo academicus activistarum to Homo academicus imaginatus
Lundgren, Mikael and Blom, Martin LU
(2024)
In Palgrave Debates in Business and Management ((PDBM))
p.251-273
- Abstract
- Many scholars are struggling to find their way in a reality characterised by a growing sense of urgency to solve pressing social problems and a diminishing faith in traditional institutions, such as universities, spreading through society. Some scholars respond by turning towards activism, which manifests in overtly ideological teaching, increasingly radical critical research agendas, and even public actions in the name of science. Others may feel attracted to enter into academia, perhaps as PhD students, primarily in search of a platform to advance deepfelt issues. In this chapter, we problematise the self-proclaimed role and practice of Homo academicus activistarum—i.e., the academic activist—within the scholarly fields of management and... (More)
- Many scholars are struggling to find their way in a reality characterised by a growing sense of urgency to solve pressing social problems and a diminishing faith in traditional institutions, such as universities, spreading through society. Some scholars respond by turning towards activism, which manifests in overtly ideological teaching, increasingly radical critical research agendas, and even public actions in the name of science. Others may feel attracted to enter into academia, perhaps as PhD students, primarily in search of a platform to advance deepfelt issues. In this chapter, we problematise the self-proclaimed role and practice of Homo academicus activistarum—i.e., the academic activist—within the scholarly fields of management and organisation. However, our suggested alternative is not the idealistic Homo academicus, devoted to knowledge but detached from managerial and organisational practice. Instead, we propose the role of Homo academicus imaginatus, or the imaginative scholar, who explores, illustrates, and communicates productive and thought-provoking alternatives to current states of affairs and practices. In the chapter, we outline how the imaginative scholar can engage in “imaginative performativity” as an approach to both teaching and research, promoting reflexivity and alternative thinking while simultaneously avoiding the pitfalls and perils of academic activism. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/2442f9dd-9fb4-4823-86f6-b21c34d395cf
- author
- Lundgren, Mikael
and Blom, Martin
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2024
- type
- Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Activism, Scholarly activism, Academic activism, Aacdemic impact, Imagination
- host publication
- Debating ‘Homo Academicus’ in Management and Organization : Ontological Assumptions and Practical Implications - Ontological Assumptions and Practical Implications
- series title
- Palgrave Debates in Business and Management ((PDBM))
- editor
- Cinque, Silvia and Ericsson, Daniel
- edition
- 1
- pages
- 251 - 273
- publisher
- Palgrave Macmillan
- ISSN
- 2524-5090
- 2524-5082
- ISBN
- 978-3-031-58197-7
- 978-3-031-58195-3
- DOI
- 10.1007/978-3-031-58195-3_11
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 2442f9dd-9fb4-4823-86f6-b21c34d395cf
- date added to LUP
- 2024-09-30 08:36:03
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 14:32:11
@inbook{2442f9dd-9fb4-4823-86f6-b21c34d395cf,
abstract = {{Many scholars are struggling to find their way in a reality characterised by a growing sense of urgency to solve pressing social problems and a diminishing faith in traditional institutions, such as universities, spreading through society. Some scholars respond by turning towards activism, which manifests in overtly ideological teaching, increasingly radical critical research agendas, and even public actions in the name of science. Others may feel attracted to enter into academia, perhaps as PhD students, primarily in search of a platform to advance deepfelt issues. In this chapter, we problematise the self-proclaimed role and practice of Homo academicus activistarum—i.e., the academic activist—within the scholarly fields of management and organisation. However, our suggested alternative is not the idealistic Homo academicus, devoted to knowledge but detached from managerial and organisational practice. Instead, we propose the role of Homo academicus imaginatus, or the imaginative scholar, who explores, illustrates, and communicates productive and thought-provoking alternatives to current states of affairs and practices. In the chapter, we outline how the imaginative scholar can engage in “imaginative performativity” as an approach to both teaching and research, promoting reflexivity and alternative thinking while simultaneously avoiding the pitfalls and perils of academic activism.}},
author = {{Lundgren, Mikael and Blom, Martin}},
booktitle = {{Debating ‘Homo Academicus’ in Management and Organization : Ontological Assumptions and Practical Implications}},
editor = {{Cinque, Silvia and Ericsson, Daniel}},
isbn = {{978-3-031-58197-7}},
issn = {{2524-5090}},
keywords = {{Activism; Scholarly activism; Academic activism; Aacdemic impact; Imagination}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{251--273}},
publisher = {{Palgrave Macmillan}},
series = {{Palgrave Debates in Business and Management ((PDBM))}},
title = {{From Homo academicus activistarum to Homo academicus imaginatus}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-58195-3_11}},
doi = {{10.1007/978-3-031-58195-3_11}},
year = {{2024}},
}