After todays meeting in the general assembly over the coming
circle-program I have a few reflections that I would like to share:
First
of all the absence of any members of the new circle was in a way
surreal. Maybe that’s why there where no happy cheers after the result
was presented – there where only losers in the building. As I interpret
the NSU-spirit it’s all about being present, being here, meeting new
minds, arguments, perspectives and sharing your own ideas with them.
Secondly,
the NSU-organisation is still under pressure from our financial
partners. This, I understand, is the main reason for the board’s
suggestion of the coming circle-program. The board wants to meet the
demands and critique from the Nordic counsel (Nordfack), but I am afraid
that the lack of integrity of the board in this matter threatens the
future existence of NSU. What can we (i.e. all the circles) learn from
the politics of today’s decision? Continuity is not a good thing,
neither is the publishing of the circles work in NSU-press, nor being
present on the summer and winter-sessions and the collaboration with
other circles. This is definitely not in line with my interpretation of
the NSU-spirit!
Thirdly, there is a NSU-spirit, which is unique
as far as I know in the academic world. This spirit is made up of the
participating members, in a non-hierarchical way, and shared between
veterans and newcomers mainly on the summer-sessions. The NSU-spirit is
under pressure, as the surrounding society has little understanding of
the point and outcome since it is hard to quantify in order to satisfy
the technocrats out there. In order for NSU to withstand this pressure
it is important to guard our spirit, and the best way to do that is for
the members to socialize into the spirit. Not to gain access to the NSU
organization by formal applications and a brief visit for an hour or
two. This is not how I would secure the most important feature of NSU:
the NSU-spirit.
Åke Nilsén (first NSU-summersession in Viskadalen 1988)
It worries me that a suggestion of a new circle which was supported by dedicated participants who have been a part of NSU often for many years is turned down and replaced by something which was in principle nothing more than formal application. If this is the way NSU is going, the organization might very well survive in some sense but not in the form that we know it and what has made it unique. It will rather become more like any other research council colonized by neoliberal ideology. In that case, it cannot anymore depend on the commitment and idealistic work by the organization’s members. The democratic structure must sooner or later be replaced by a bureaucracy. I hope that the new board sees this risk and try to prevent it.
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