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Olof Hallonsten. Photo

Olof Hallonsten

Senior lecturer

Olof Hallonsten. Photo

Innovationism and the New Public Intellectuals

Author

  • Olof Hallonsten

Editor

  • Magnus Henrekson
  • Christian Sandström
  • Mikael Stenkula

Summary, in English

Public intellectuals were once honest and knowledgeable academics who engaged in critical debate and spoke truth to power, but seem today rather to be celebrities who make vast amounts of money from selling an oversimplified message to policymakers and the public. This chapter discusses the role of the new public intellectuals for the rise of oversimplified and misguided innovation policy, both in the wider context of the recent spread of the ideology of “innovationism” and with specific attention to the sociological mechanisms involved. With the help of a conceptual discussion and some key examples, the chapter issues some warnings of what might happen when public intellectuals give up essential virtues of academic work in favor of fame and fortune, and the role they can then come to play in the spread of “innovationism” and misdirected innovation policy agendas.

Department/s

  • Organizational Studies
  • CIRCLE

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Publication/Series

International Studies in Entrepreneurship

Volume

56

Document type

Book chapter

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Business Administration

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1572-1922
  • ISSN: 2197-5884