Bizarre Academism and Science in Slovenia: Elements for Anthropological Study of Postsocialism and Transition
BIZARRE ACADEMISM AND SCIENCE IN SLOVENIA: ELEMENTS FOR ANTHROPOLOGICAL STUDY OF

Author(s): Vlado Kotnik
Subject(s): Culture and social structure , Higher Education , Post-Communist Transformation
Published by: Srpski genealoški centar
Keywords: anthropology; postsocialism; transition; academism; Slovenia
Summary/Abstract: This article addresses some of the aspects the academic sphere, science and intellectual culture under postsocialism offer for the understanding of transition issues in contemporary Slovenia. It starts with the surprise that has been caused by the bizarre commodification and domestication of anthropology in Slovenia, particularly at Slovenian universities, after 1990s, and tries to reflect social reception, institutional organization and academic status of anthropology in this country. Furthermore, through a specific case study of a violent debate which recently took place in Slovenia concerning the reasons for the absence of Slovenian universities on the notorious list of top 500 world universities, it tries to illustrate the essence of how academic spheres in transitional societies function. The conclusion presents some elements of social hypocrisy and discrepancy. It reveals certain facts that have taken place within the last few years, and thus helps us understand the contribution of the Slovenian state administration for science to the process of systematic transformation of this autonomous social domain of highly intellectual work into a turbo-neoliberal enterprise of wageworkers, academic lumpenproletarians, anti-intellectual jobbers, profiteers and money-spinners.

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