Publish or perish: ideological foundations and perceived benefits

While POP enthusiasts reject the connection between POP and neoliberalism, this connection is tangible. The pillars of neoliberalism (efficiency, standardisation, competition, enterprise and market gain) are embodied in POP with respect to the production of a commodity called publishable research. Neoliberalism embodies the propositions of the survival of the fittest and social Darwinism, which thrive in a POP environment. The connection between POP and capitalism can be seen in at least three different forms, including the trend for universities to act like rival enterprises that seek to maximise profit, that it benefits powerful countries at the expense of weaker ones, and the profitability of the publishing industry. The globalisation of higher education can be interpreted as a form of neo-colonialism that maintains the patterns of dependency and reinforces the superiority of Anglo-American scholarship.