Luigi+Russi

=Sibling Rivalry: Narratives of «Cultural Commons» at a Crossroads and the Future of Education= = =

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**Project summary**
Literature on the «cultural commons» appeas to be split in at least two camps, which differ in the breadth of the notion of «culture» they tend to associate with the existence of a «commons». On the one hand, narrow definitions of «culture» tend to crop up in discussions that are openly disengaged from politics, and which often feature the extensive use of elaborate analytical frameworks (the «analytical» school). On the other hand, broad definitions of «cultural commons» tend to abound in literature that is broadly traceable to the global resistance movement and is, therefore, characterised by a strong political element (the «radical» school). My essay does the following, with respect to these two brands of «cultural commons» discourse. First of all, it considers how each brand seeks to appoint itself as the heir to a particular political or methodological position. Later, however, it tries to undo the «official» genealogy of each school, trying to show how the analytical school is - by virtue of its very technicality - prone to political use, as well as what the political substance of the more «radical» discourse on «cultural commons» really is. These ambiguities and contradictions are illustrated through the reference to a concrete example, i.e. the ongoing debate - in England - as to how best to guarantee a «sustainable future for higher education», as sparked by the recent «Browne review» on higher education funding.