Even in supposedly liberal, open and self-critical institutions such as universities, the definitions of what is to count as education are predominantly imposed and only open to negociation in a marginal, piecemeal, fashion and then on unequal terms. While social organization would break down if every practice and convention were simultaneously ‘up for grabs’, this, of course, cannot serve as a legitimation of the undemocratic nature of the reproduction and transformation of actual existing societies. (p. 38)
Sayer, A. (1992). Method in social science: A realist approach (2d ed). London: Routledge.