Neo-liberal ideology threatens scholarship and collegiality of young researchers: a discussion starter

Traditionally, universities are places where people are committed to their work and to the colleagues they are working with. Scholarship and collegiality are seen as virtues to protect. These virtues are, in our opinion, threatened by the neo-liberal ideology which takes ground more and more. This ideology claims that everyone should be prosperous, successful and thus happy. And additionally, that this is achievable due to your own efforts. This manifests itself in being the best, or at least belonging to the top. You have a top wife or husband; are going on top holidays; and you are working in a top university, publishing in top journals. The counter argument posits that, if you fail, this is a consequence of your own shortcomings.