I Justify Myself, Therefore I am. Regimes Of Justification In Chilean Elite Universities

Authors

  • Maria Luisa Quaresma Autonomous University of Chile
  • Cristobal Villalobos Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
  • Mario Fergnani University of Alberto Hurtado
  • Bárbara Diaz Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

https://doi.org/10.17583/rise.7851

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Abstract

Few studies focus on understanding the role of universities in the elites’ legitimation processes. This article examines how elite universities -in the context of Chilean tertiary education massification- actively create privileged statuses. Focusing on eight case studies, we examine how these universities justify their roles and existence, generating distinctions that promote highly exclusive spaces, replicating elite privilege. Through 48 semi-structured interviews, this article focuses on understanding the justification arguments employed by faculty and deans from these elite institutions. Following Boltanski’s and Thévenot’s theoretical model, the results illustrate three different justification regimes: i) arguing for their elite status within the university system; ii) justifying the role they fulfil within Chilean society; and iii) defending their existence in the social structure. These regimes combine arguments relating to social justice, efficiency and market system performance in an eclectic and pragmatic way.

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Author Biographies

Maria Luisa Quaresma, Autonomous University of Chile

Professor and Researcher at the Universidad Autónoma de Chile and Researcher at Sociology Institute of Oporto (Portugal). She received her PhD in Sociology from the University of Oporto (Portugal).

Cristobal Villalobos, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Phd in Social Sciences for Universidad de Chile, Chile. He has a master’s in Economics Applied to Public Policies (Alberto Hurtado University and Georgetown University). Actually, he is an Associate Researcher at the Centre for Studies on Policies and Practices in Education (CEPPE UC) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. 

Mario Fergnani, University of Alberto Hurtado

Sociologist from Alberto Hurtado University (Chile). He is currently developing the master's degree in the same university

Bárbara Diaz, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Sociologist from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Chile). She is working as a Research Assistance at at the Centre for Studies on Policies and Practices in Education (CEPPE UC) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

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Published

2024-02-23
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Quaresma, M. L., Villalobos, C., Fergnani, M., & Diaz, B. (2024). I Justify Myself, Therefore I am. Regimes Of Justification In Chilean Elite Universities. International Journal of Sociology of Education, 13(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.17583/rise.7851

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