Stuck in the Middle with You?

This paper examines similarities between the worlds of managers and critical management researchers. It attempts to illustrate the practices of division in which both sets of actors are engaged. Through a comparison of the contexts of managerial and critical managerial action, coupled with the use of Burke's (1969) notion of the scapegoat, the paper suggests that battles between academic disciplines and across the academy/practice divide may be more productively recognized as essential resources for identity work and self care. The paper concludes with a brief consideration of the value of the approach suggested.