Dear Thesis Examinations Coordinator

Since January 2005 I have been enrolled as a Doctoral candidate at Griffith University, and in July 2008 I submitted a Thesis manuscript to the University for external examination. During the course of this period of study my political beliefs have substantially evolved, and I now consider myself a radical scholar.

The study I produced, titled “Mediating Social Engineering: Moving Beyond Elite Manipulation of Democracy,” critically examines how elite power-brokers, especially those assuming the guise of impartial progressive philanthropists, work to manipulate civil society to promote and sustain plutocratic political arrangements. In the final stages of this research, I examined how elite manipulation operates within academia – which led to my presenting a peer-review paper titled, “Progressive Social Change in the ‘Ivory Tower’? A Critical Reflection on the Evolution of Activist Orientated Research in US Universities,” at the Australasian Political Science Association conference that was held last year at the University of Queensland (July 6-9, 2008). This paper demonstrated how powerful liberal individuals and their philanthropic foundations have manipulated the university system to help bolster a capitalist political status quo. I concluded that:

Sustaining useful autonomous activist research within universities requires that radical scholars who choose to remain within the system fight to retain vital connections with one another and with activists working outside of the university environs. However, in my view, undertaking such scholarship only lends a fig leaf of respectability to what are at root capitalist enterprises; consequently a purist and more sustainable solution requires that radical intellectuals step out of the university world and work to create alternative, people-powered institutions that can seriously challenge the status quo.

As my research and learning has imparted this world view within me, I now find myself in a position where accepting this PhD is not possible. With this in mind I wish to inform you that I will not be handing in the revised PhD manuscript, titled “Mediating Social Engineering: Moving Beyond Elite Manipulation of Democracy.” My decision is consistent with the views expressed above.

I wish to emphasize that the research and analyses that informed this decision were undertaken in the closing months of my candidature, and even upon handing in my manuscript I was still unsure as to how I should proceed with regard to accepting the PhD. Rather than simply resign my candidature prior to handing in my thesis, I determined that a more powerful political statement could be made by rejecting the concept of receiving a PhD after it was accepted by the external examiners. In this way, detractors could not assert that I was incapable of completing a PhD, only that I had decided not to accept it. The difference is critical given my view of the political role that universities fulfill in justifying plutocracy.

Critically, I wish to demonstrate that I am rejecting the formal academic institution and not the reverse. For this reason, I have waited for the Chair’s final decision, which required only minor changes to the thesis, before informing Griffith University that I would not be making the suggested corrections.

Yours sincerely

Michael Barker

stegosaurus posted:

check this shit out http://michaeljamesbarker.wordpress.com/thesis-outline/

Dear Thesis Examinations Coordinator

Since January 2005 I have been enrolled as a Doctoral candidate at Griffith University, and in July 2008 I submitted a Thesis manuscript to the University for external examination. During the course of this period of study my political beliefs have substantially evolved, and I now consider myself a radical scholar.

The study I produced, titled “Mediating Social Engineering: Moving Beyond Elite Manipulation of Democracy,” critically examines how elite power-brokers, especially those assuming the guise of impartial progressive philanthropists, work to manipulate civil society to promote and sustain plutocratic political arrangements. In the final stages of this research, I examined how elite manipulation operates within academia – which led to my presenting a peer-review paper titled, “Progressive Social Change in the ‘Ivory Tower’? A Critical Reflection on the Evolution of Activist Orientated Research in US Universities,” at the Australasian Political Science Association conference that was held last year at the University of Queensland (July 6-9, 2008). This paper demonstrated how powerful liberal individuals and their philanthropic foundations have manipulated the university system to help bolster a capitalist political status quo. I concluded that:

Sustaining useful autonomous activist research within universities requires that radical scholars who choose to remain within the system fight to retain vital connections with one another and with activists working outside of the university environs. However, in my view, undertaking such scholarship only lends a fig leaf of respectability to what are at root capitalist enterprises; consequently a purist and more sustainable solution requires that radical intellectuals step out of the university world and work to create alternative, people-powered institutions that can seriously challenge the status quo.

As my research and learning has imparted this world view within me, I now find myself in a position where accepting this PhD is not possible. With this in mind I wish to inform you that I will not be handing in the revised PhD manuscript, titled “Mediating Social Engineering: Moving Beyond Elite Manipulation of Democracy.” My decision is consistent with the views expressed above.

I wish to emphasize that the research and analyses that informed this decision were undertaken in the closing months of my candidature, and even upon handing in my manuscript I was still unsure as to how I should proceed with regard to accepting the PhD. Rather than simply resign my candidature prior to handing in my thesis, I determined that a more powerful political statement could be made by rejecting the concept of receiving a PhD after it was accepted by the external examiners. In this way, detractors could not assert that I was incapable of completing a PhD, only that I had decided not to accept it. The difference is critical given my view of the political role that universities fulfill in justifying plutocracy.

Critically, I wish to demonstrate that I am rejecting the formal academic institution and not the reverse. For this reason, I have waited for the Chair’s final decision, which required only minor changes to the thesis, before informing Griffith University that I would not be making the suggested corrections.

All this leads me to this trouble Ive been expereiencing with my network card -- I am unable to find the drivers for it. If any goons could lend some experience, I am all ears. Thanks.

Yours sincerely

Michael Barker

palafox posted:

littlegreenpills posted:

now im reading a book about Sikh history by a Punjabi studies maven @ the university of delhi. its rampant cheer leading but if you read between the lines you get a good picture of a hippy cult metamorphosing into a falun gong esque state within a state which transmuted itself into a heavily-armed paramilitary movement by coercing or violently purging any followers who weren't down with temporal violence before taking over the punjab. Good Shit. my genes are singing

got a link, my khalsa brother?
http://www.neverforget84.com/

lol no i found it in Goodwill

Ironicwarcriminal posted:

Fringo you're in a feisty iconoclastic mood, you revisiting the fountainhead?

I like it

i went to the US for about two weeks, had lots of fun, feeling great.

getfiscal posted:

Ironicwarcriminal posted:
Fringo you're in a feisty iconoclastic mood, you revisiting the fountainhead?

I like it
i went to the US for about two weeks, had lots of fun, feeling great.

Yeah those wacky ole states make you feel alive huh

Good to hear, may Christ be with you