The European and American university since 1800
Subtitle: historical and sociological essays
By: edited by Sheldon Rothblatt and Björn Wittrock.
Contributors: Rothblatt, Sheldon.; Wittrock, Björn.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1993
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York, NY, USA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 370
Subjects: Universities and colleges -- Europe -- History -- 19th century.; Universities and colleges -- Europe -- History -- 20th century.; Universities and colleges -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Universities and colleges -- United States -- History -- 20th century.; Education, Higher -- Social aspects -- Europe -- History -- 19th century.; Education, Higher -- Social aspects -- Europe -- History -- 20th century.; Education, Higher -- Social aspects -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Education, Higher -- Social aspects -- United States -- History -- 20th century.; Higher education and state -- Europe -- History.; Higher education and state -- United States -- History.
Description: Universities are said to be the 'powerhouses' of modern society. They educate leaders, and advance our basic knowledge of nature and society. Yet historically they have been vulnerable when meeting the challenges of dynamic industrial democracies, let alone of modern totalitarian states. Today universities are at the centre of society's attention, and must therefore balance a great number of contradictory demands and pressures.

Can this be done within the structure and ethos of an historic institution called a 'university', or are such institutions now passe and merely part of a bureaucratically managed higher education 'system'? These essays discuss the ways in which universities have coped with complexity since 1800, while retaining their basic 'idea'.

Special attention is accorded to the role of the State and the autonomous professions in defining the mission of universities and on their struggle for individuality in the face of mounting pluralistic and bureaucratic pressures.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.