CommentaryIndustry & ResearchOn CampusWorkforce
The University of Toxicity: Managerialism and the rise of Professor Toxic (part 1)
Managerialism, academic capitalism and the rise of Professor Toxic.
Please login below to view content or subscribe now.
While it is hard to disagree with the introduction, as we all observe and are affected by the managerialism running amok in academia, the piece itself suddenly takes an abrupt turn into managerial mambo-jumbo with its “Toxic leadership” exposition. Then the authors immediately proceed to fail the “Hitler test” by invoking a character any well-reasoned argument must avoid. I find it quite unfortunate, as there is a lot to be said about the immense harm managerialism does to academia, even without comparing it to nazism. Some of that harm may indeed result from incentivising the wrong kind of leadership. But most of the real long term damage is certainly done by creating a toxic work environment, lowering workforce moral and limiting academic freedom – all of which makes academia and academic careers less attractive for creative and capable individuals. Over time that will surely diminish the human capital invested in academia, as well as its societal benefits and public regard for it. That is the argument that needs to be made convincingly in order to reverse that trend and to save academia from being ruined by the ignorant capitalist “modernisers”. And leaving Hitler out of your arguments is always a good idea.
Hitler was diagnosed as a psychopath in 1933 by a Norwegian psychiatrist and so his role as a toxic leader could arguably have been predicted based on his personality. Hess, Hitler’s number three was diagnosed as psychopathic in 1941. Goering, Hitler’s deputy and the highest ranking German solder through the whole second world war, was also diagnosed as a psychopath and described as a narcissist during the Nuremberg War Trials in 1946. Their effect on the culture of governance was such that the whole Nazi government was characterized as psychopathic in its ruthless and callous treatment of large segments the people of Europe.
Leaving Hitler out of a thorough discussion of toxic leadership and its effects on organizational culture is preposterous. A ruthless toxic culture facilitates the rise of psychopathic leaders and they in turn contribute to the toxicity of the culture.