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“Academic War” over Geography? Death of Human Geography at the Australian National University
Author(s) -
LahiriDutt Kuntala
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
antipode
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.177
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1467-8330
pISSN - 0066-4812
DOI - 10.1111/anti.12496
Subject(s) - geographer , human geography , argument (complex analysis) , knowledge production , element (criminal law) , distribution (mathematics) , sociology , higher education , closure (psychology) , social science , economic geography , political science , geography , law , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , chemistry , knowledge management , mathematics , computer science
This article analyses how neoliberal economic policies decide what particular aspects of knowledge are valuable and what are not, and who might be the true holder of that knowledge within the tertiary education system. This assessment leads to some disciplines being seen as less valuable to the system. It argues that the more recent “academic wars” in geography are over the very concept of the university and its role in the contemporary society, what comprises useful knowledge, and who comprises the authoritative figure in the production and distribution of that knowledge. Gender of the geographer therefore becomes a crucial element that determines “authority” in the production of geographical knowledge. To substantiate this argument, the paper takes up the important task of analysing the complex career trajectory of geography within the Australian National University ( ANU ), the department that was gradually reduced leading eventually to its unfortunate closure in 2009.