Deserting academia: Quitting as infrapolitics.

'Quit Lit' is a genre of confessional blog posts that outline why many academics abandon academia. Drawing on sympathetic readings of these testimonies, this note argues that quitting can be understood as what James C. Scott labels 'desertion'. Desertion is the covert twin to mutiny. Rather than stay and openly protest to improve conditions, the deserter steps quietly away, resolving their situation through exit. Having deserted academia in this way, Quit Lit testimonies are then written from a space beyond sanction where the author is freer to reveal their experiences of the ivory tower - meaning that these testimonies are a resource for those studying workplace resistance. I begin by examining Quit Lit in more detail before outlining Scott's work on convert resistance - what he labels 'infrapolitics'. I discuss his theoretical framework before focusing on desertion as an infrapolitical act. Having done so, I outline some methodological concerns related to infrapolitical theory, arguing that Quit Lit offers an additional way to access the covert space away from the dominant where actors can express their feelings more openly. I then focus briefly upon temporary academics whose contracts expire and chose to leave the profession. I conclude by highlighting both the many voices missing from Quit Lit testimonies and the need to create a sustainable and nurturing academy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]