Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lens
In this study we draw on Foucault’s work on governmentality and examine the power dynamics involved in establishing and implementing policies that promote equality in European higher education. Using a qualitative case study design, we selected 17 public universities situated in 13 European countrie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sociology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1492863/full |
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| author | Elena-Loreni Baciu Theofild-Andrei Lazăr Raluca Iunia Totan |
| author_facet | Elena-Loreni Baciu Theofild-Andrei Lazăr Raluca Iunia Totan |
| author_sort | Elena-Loreni Baciu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study we draw on Foucault’s work on governmentality and examine the power dynamics involved in establishing and implementing policies that promote equality in European higher education. Using a qualitative case study design, we selected 17 public universities situated in 13 European countries, from which we collected information about (1) the way these institutions problematize inequality in reference to participation in higher education, by labeling and categorizing vulnerable students and (2) the modes of governing and power tools (designed as support measures) they employ to address inequality. The results of the study show that the most typical profiles of vulnerability with which the universities in the sample engage include: students with disabilities, students from low-income backgrounds and students with children. Additionally, most universities use targeted support measures (as opposed to mainstreaming strategies) which consist in a mix of financial aid and support and adaptation services. The critical analysis of these measures reveals their power to shape students’ identifies and actions, through processes of subjectification, categorization, normalization and responsabilization. In the last section, we discuss the tension that appears between the European universities’ social dimension and the neoliberal policies that shape their functioning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-616a47c8cae64859a7a5880386cbad39 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2297-7775 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sociology |
| spelling | doaj-art-616a47c8cae64859a7a5880386cbad392025-02-10T06:48:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sociology2297-77752025-02-011010.3389/fsoc.2025.14928631492863Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lensElena-Loreni BaciuTheofild-Andrei LazărRaluca Iunia TotanIn this study we draw on Foucault’s work on governmentality and examine the power dynamics involved in establishing and implementing policies that promote equality in European higher education. Using a qualitative case study design, we selected 17 public universities situated in 13 European countries, from which we collected information about (1) the way these institutions problematize inequality in reference to participation in higher education, by labeling and categorizing vulnerable students and (2) the modes of governing and power tools (designed as support measures) they employ to address inequality. The results of the study show that the most typical profiles of vulnerability with which the universities in the sample engage include: students with disabilities, students from low-income backgrounds and students with children. Additionally, most universities use targeted support measures (as opposed to mainstreaming strategies) which consist in a mix of financial aid and support and adaptation services. The critical analysis of these measures reveals their power to shape students’ identifies and actions, through processes of subjectification, categorization, normalization and responsabilization. In the last section, we discuss the tension that appears between the European universities’ social dimension and the neoliberal policies that shape their functioning.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1492863/fullEuropean higher educationvulnerable studentsgovernmentalityFoucaultEuropean higher education policiessocial dimension of higher education |
| spellingShingle | Elena-Loreni Baciu Theofild-Andrei Lazăr Raluca Iunia Totan Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lens Frontiers in Sociology European higher education vulnerable students governmentality Foucault European higher education policies social dimension of higher education |
| title | Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lens |
| title_full | Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lens |
| title_fullStr | Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lens |
| title_short | Social goals under a neoliberal agenda: measures to promote equality in European higher education read through a Foucauldian lens |
| title_sort | social goals under a neoliberal agenda measures to promote equality in european higher education read through a foucauldian lens |
| topic | European higher education vulnerable students governmentality Foucault European higher education policies social dimension of higher education |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1492863/full |
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