Neoliberal governmentality, responsibilization and deepening of academic tribalism in the Zambian academy: a commentary. International Journal of multi-disciplinary research. ISSN (online): 3471-7102.

Abstract

This commentary advances the central contention that neoliberal governmentality has caused a systematic responsibilization of academics which has in turn caused academic tribalism to deepen. By neoliberal governmentality I mean the regulation of mind and soul of the academics to orient them towards entrepreneurial forms of thinking. On the other hand, my understanding of responsibilization corresponds to the definition offered by Davies (2003) who asserts that it is the process by which Schools and universities are reconfigured to produce the highly individualized subjects who become entrepreneurial actors across all dimensions of their lives. In this paper, the manifest forms and effects of neoliberal governmentality are discussed. The ways in which neoliberal governmentality may deepen academic tribalism are also illuminated. Finally, an opinion is offered on the role of neoliberal governmentality in deepening academic tribalism in the Zambian academy.