GLOBALIZATION, UNIVERSITIES AND THE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY: CRITIQUE AND CHALLENGES FOR A KNOWLEDGEABLE SOCIETY

Abstract

This work introduces some remarks on ‘knowledge’ as an organizing idea for the creation of a new kind of knowledge-based economy. The role of the international agencies, in particular the Organization for Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD), the World Bank, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF), is analyzed. The particular role of the universities, as producers of ‘entrepreneurial’ labor for the economy, creators of intellectual property, being thus merely a services sector (along with health, finances etc.) within a knowledge-based economy is studied. It is argued that what is critically needed is the development of alternative ideas for the university which may challenge this narrow economic conception of the university.