This work investigates the evolving relationship between higher education institutions and the democratic public sphere in the context of increasing market pressures. Brian Pusser, a scholar of higher education policy, examines how universities navigate the tension between their role as public goods and their participation in competitive economic systems. The book utilizes a framework of political theory and organizational analysis to evaluate how institutional autonomy is impacted by state and corporate interests.

Scholars in the field of higher education policy frequently cite this text for its rigorous critique of institutional mission drift. It is widely regarded as a foundational resource for understanding the structural challenges facing modern universities in a globalized economy.