Deusto University has just fired you, what exactly has happened?

In June, I was informed that they wanted to rescind my contract on 31 August. That day, as announced, the process was suspended and the process of labor mediation started. In October I was recognised that it was not fair to say goodbye, but I was left with nothing. The good thing is that I have received a flood of solidarity and that has moved me.

At the moment, I am unemployed and I am perpetuating myself in workshops and courses. It's been a huge blow to me, because my bet was to come to Euskal Herria. I have sought to come here for many years, I am fully integrated and studying Basque. It may not be feasible to continue here in the current situation.

What has the University of Deusto claimed to say goodbye to you?

In principle, they have not given a clear explanation, but there have been two fundamental conflicts. On the one hand, my critical attitude towards the processes of digitalization of society and, in particular, the dissemination of artistic intelligence in social processes; justice, education...

In fact, there is a close relationship between the Center for Applied Ethics that hired me, the Faculty of Engineering and the companies that are in contact with the university. Its objective is to launch yellow processes and take advantage of the center to paint ethically. In other words, they want the digitisation process to be reliable, in a way, because the center has supported it ethically, rejecting the possible risks.

My position has been to deny these processes and to be critical, and that was conflicting. For example, when they proposed to participate in the days, I said that I had a different opinion and they said that it was better not to go. Or I was accused of being fundamentalist and locked in dialogue.

That was not true, I was willing to argue, and from an academic point of view, a possible posture should be the denial of digitalisation. In any case, in practice, the University of Deusto does not accept a critical attitude against capitalism, since its business alliances are questioned. Likewise, a conflict is created with the students, since the company is an organization dedicated to the creation of elites.

What was another contentious issue?

The other is my criticism of the hegemonic strategies of the eco-social transitions and that in relation to global justice. The research relating to mining companies was an important line of work of the institute and I was not neutral in the relationship between the damage generated by these companies and the peoples and communities of origin. In short, Deusto argues that forced extraction processes are going to take place in South America and that the separation of means is needed to justify the activity of mining companies.

From the outset, my position was to explain that capitalist development and growth are not sustainable and that desgrowth must become a positive political proposal. In fact, the sources of energy and materials are running out and it is an undisputed reality. The increase in electricity and supplies or the gas crisis have already appeared and will continue with us.

I believe that the current situation must be used to deepen democracy, autonomy and equality and not the other way around. This point of view caused some tension. These discrepancies were reflected when I explained that I was not prepared to sign texts based on the concept of sustainable development, because it is not viable.

In any case, the University of Deusto already knew its ideas before, right?

Yes, I overcame a long selection process, overcoming different interviews. However, since I arrived it was a lack of confidence and on my first visit I was told that the University of Deusto is not an institution of the PNV, because there were also people from the PP, the PSOE or Citizens. But I was stressed that there was no member of the Abertzale Left.

In any case, the Jesuit culture is also behind and the conflicts do not emerge, in general, make a silent follow-up and take notes.

Have you had a hard time working?

My autonomous procedure, the relationship with other universities or the publication of the book have been punished. In his view, my boss ' s approval was always necessary. Authoritarianism is very present and cannot be egalitarian. There is a culture of hierarchy and dependency.

Surely my classes have created more problems, but they have not communicated it to me. However, as a professor, speaking to engineering students, I have explained to them what technology is and what its function is within the capital and the state system and its ecological consequences. You may not feel very comfortable with that.

Has there been agreement between your colleagues on dismissal?

No, it was a decision taken unilaterally. Dean Francisco Javier Arellano Yanguas has received the award and received the support of the director of the Center for Applied Ethics, Francisco Javier Contreras. I told my colleagues what happened, they didn't know anything, and they think it's a mistake.

That has taught me that my dismissal has been the policy of the organization and not the opinion of my colleagues.

When do you think you decided to do without you?

Surely, when I refused to sign with the dean a text on dependency. I wanted to build on the concept of sustainable development and, as I say, I do not agree. I think that's where they decided not to renew my contract.

My colleagues have told me that I have put a lot of red lines, but I have not fooled anyone. From the beginning I said that my attitude was critical in terms of technology, but it is that I compare my obligations gabe.Hau, I have not given up writing articles, but I have signed on my behalf. I've been flexible and I've never done anything against Deusto University.

To what extent the book you published this year has helped to make this situation worse. ? It is a critical text with technology in the context of capitalist development.

They got it very cold, so I guess they didn't like it. It is difficult to know, because they have not given any concrete reason to explain my dismissal.

I would like to stress that the university has learned from the experience and has expressed it. In fact, the square that you've taken out to fill my void is not stable, but precarious, two years old, not to create connections. They have also explained the political lines that should guide candidates and candidates for the European elections. In my case it was the philosophy of technology, which was possible to be critical, and my substitute will work the ethics of artistic intelligence, that is, he will not be able to deny it. That means you're looking for someone to match your capitalist and academic theses.

Do you think your academic career is in question?

In the university world, it's hard to find a place where someone doesn't support you in the organization. I spent a year and a half in Deusto to find a job and the most common thing is to distribute places in the universities themselves and not with people from outside. There are few exceptions. For example, the University of Zaragoza or the University of the Basque Country are interested, but I have to fulfil the linguistic profile and, therefore, that is in the medium term. If I get a postdoctoral scholarship, I want to do it at the UPV. The CSIC has also offered me a contract, but I would have to go back to Madrid and they are precarious contracts. In Deusto, in principle, he had a fixed post.

On the other hand, this situation has led me to wonder if the university is the place for social transformation, to which my work is destined. That is why I am valuing integration into the transformative social economy.