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How do you, as a Marxist, view academia in the west? (lemmygrad.ml)

submitted 6 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I am in higher level education in the public university system. I used to view academia as a source of hope in society, and perhaps a progressive institution in someways, or some kind of source of hope with their supposed focus on science and research. After some years here, this "image" I had of academia has been shattered.

What are your perceptions of academia and research institutions, as Marxists?

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

In as few words as possible: U.S. academia functions as an MLM* scheme where your best career prospect after getting out will be in academia, preparing further students to leave academia only to return, ad infinitum.

Except for STEM degrees. Then you might be able to get a job for the military industrial complex.

Almost no one I know who finished university wound up doing the kind of work they studied for. One's in healthcare. The rest are still doing odd-jobs or wound up back in academia.

*MLM = multi-level marketing, not Marxist-Leninist-Maoist

[–] [email protected] 0 points 6 months ago

Honestly, I wouldn't be that opposed to having to stay in Academia and just do research, if the entire institution and system around submitting research wasn't such a corrupt pile of shit. I honestly fucking love doing research, even in my free time, I always have a million tabs open, always trying to read new stuff. Just can't stand the elitism and classism in Academia. Wish being an independent researcher was a more realistic thing.

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