ABSTRACT
Universities hold a special place in a democratic society. We should think of them as essential to democracy. Of course, this does not mean there can only be universities within democratic states. Rather, it means that universities have democratising tendencies. They were places of advanced learning, where new knowledge was developed, and places of higher education. Universities produce knowledge through research and educate students who graduate with some portion of that knowledge. Academics have expertise; they are often hired as expert consultants, able to offer critical commentary on business practices or state policies.
