Internalized Capitalism: An examination

This study seeks to understand how the internet phenomenon “internalized capitalism” can be used to examine how Danish students on higher education experience the effect of society’s logics, norms, and values. The empirical material is created through four semi-structured interviews with Danish students enrolled at higher educations. The theoretical framework consists of Ove Kaj Pedersen's theory of the competitive state, Anders Petersen's theory of the performance society and Pierre Bourdieu's theory of fields, habitus, illusio, and doxa. Finally, Luc Boltanski and Eve Chia-pello's theory of the new spirit of capitalism is included. The analysis shows that the students expe-rience an increase in competition within their educational institutions, and the students face de-mands for self-management, productivity, and the ability to convert their capital to self-advantage. The report concludes that Danish students at higher education experience pressure in several re-gards. Students experience demands from society to strive for extraordinary achievements at uni-versity and on the labor market. In addition, the individuals experience freedom in terms of seeking out prosperity within the capitalist society. In the pursuit of success, individuals have different dis-positions and their ability to achieve privileges correlates with personal attributes. While the report assesses that its broad theoretical framework constitutes a solid basis for the research, this also serves as a point of criticism.This study seeks to understand how the internet phenomenon “internalized capitalism” can be used to examine how Danish students on higher education experience the effect of society’s logics, norms, and values. The empirical material is created through four semi-structured interviews with Danish students enrolled at higher educations. The theoretical framework consists of Ove Kaj Pedersen's theory of the competitive state, Anders Petersen's theory of the performance society and Pierre Bourdieu's theory of fields, habitus, illusio, and doxa. Finally, Luc Boltanski and Eve Chia-pello's theory of the new spirit of capitalism is included. The analysis shows that the students expe-rience an increase in competition within their educational institutions, and the students face de-mands for self-management, productivity, and the ability to convert their capital to self-advantage. The report concludes that Danish students at higher education experience pressure in several re-gards. Students experience demands from society to strive for extraordinary achievements at uni-versity and on the labor market. In addition, the individuals experience freedom in terms of seeking out prosperity within the capitalist society. In the pursuit of success, individuals have different dis-positions and their ability to achieve privileges correlates with personal attributes. While the report assesses that its broad theoretical framework constitutes a solid basis for the research, this also serves as a point of criticism