Assassins in academia? New Zealand academics as critic and conscience of society

Abstract

This paper uses literature on the positioning of intellectuals in society to consider the enactment of the ‘critic and conscience’ role within New Zealand universities. The critic and conscience of society is a statutory obligation for universities but is seen to be threatened by a combination of market forces and challenges to the status of knowledge. Drawing on the work of Laclau and Mouffe, the identity of the ‘critical and engaged expert’ is constituted, which recognises the vital role that New Zealand academics can play as a force for democratic social change.