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The Humanities under Siege?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Theo D’haen
Theo D’haen*
Affiliation:
University of Leuven - KU Leuven, Belgium
*
Theo D’haen, University of Leuven - KU Leuven, English Department, Blijde Inkomststraat 21, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Email: theo.dhaen@arts.kuleuven.ac.be
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Abstract

Everywhere in Europe the humanities, and within the humanities particularly the study of languages and literatures, are increasingly under pressure from reductions in staff numbers and research funding. This is a pity, because the capital – both cultural and economic - the humanities, and the study of languages and literatures, represent is considerable. Moreover, boosting the humanities requires relatively little investment, certainly in comparison to the pure and exact sciences. However, the humanities should not expect to be saved by simply continuing in the tracks of the last century or so. Instead, they should aim to better ‘sell’ themselves in the era of globalization.

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Type
Articles
Information
Diogenes , Volume 58 , Issue 1-2: The Humanities Today , May 2011 , pp. 136 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © ICPHS 2012

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