Globalization, Competition and the Transformation of German Universities since the 1970s.

This article examines the transformation of German universities since the 1970s into competitive "entrepreneurial universities" in response to globalization and economic challenges. Drawing on archival research from six universities, it highlights how reforms in governance, funding, and performance metrics reshaped power relations within institutions and the broader scientific community. While neoliberal ideas and New Public Management influenced these changes—promoting competition, managerialism, and market-oriented practices—the process was complex and intertwined with Germany's federal structure, constitutional constraints, and academic actors' own agency. The article also discusses the impact of initiatives like the Exzellenzinitiative, the rise of university rankings, and efforts to internationalize, noting that despite significant reforms, German universities remain less privatized and less stratified than their Anglo-American counterparts.