The aim of this study is to examine work alienation in academic life through Fiske's (1991) Relational Models Theory (RMT). RMT conceptualizes four basic relational models—communal sharing, authority ranking, equality matching, and market pricing—which are expected to shape how academics perceive and experience alienation. To address this issue, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 academics from different regions of Turkey, representing diverse disciplines and titles, each with at least four years of experience. Interviews lasted 45-90 minutes and were analyzed using thematic analysis supported by a closed coding approach. Findings showed that alienation was most strongly associated with the market pricing model. Academics reported difficulties in receiving fair returns for their efforts, increasing pressure of academic performance standards, the commodification of academic labor, and the erosion of meritocracy. Experiences linked to equality matching included unequal access to resources, limited participation in decision-making, and gender inequality. In relation to authority ranking, participants highlighted the misuse of hierarchical power and corruption of authority. Finally, in the context of communal sharing, academics emphasized the importance of unity within departments, institutions, and among the academic community noting its decline as a source of alienation. Overall, the results suggest that market pricing is the dominant dimension shaping alienation in academia. Strengthening fairness and proportionality in academic relations may help reduce alienation. This study contributes by demonstrating the usefulness of RMT for understanding alienation in academic settings and by providing insights into the particular challenges faced in Turkish higher education.