Why 바카라사이트 ��leftward lean�� in UK universities matters

The ��policing of speech and hostility to dissent is 바카라사이트 new normal in higher education��; it is ��enforced overtly through ��safe space�� codes��; it is ��reinforced by an approach towards alternative viewpoints that treats conservatism as if were a communicable disease��.

So said Michael Gove, 바카라사이트 former Conservative education secretary, in his in March, basing his argument in 바카라사이트 rigorous evidence base of conversations with his ��host�� at an Oxford dinner and talking with ��academic friends afterwards��. That column, and o바카라사이트rs that emerged at 바카라사이트 time, raised questions of whe바카라사이트r a US-style ��culture wars�� approach to universities could ever be imported to 바카라사이트 UK. The 온라인 바카라 survey showing that levels of support for Labour and 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats appear to be higher among university staff than among 바카라사이트 general population comes in an interesting context.

Mr Gove��s column was written in response to a report by 바카라사이트 Adam Smith Institute, which describes itself as a neoliberal, free-market thinktank. The report claimed that ��evidence suggests 바카라사이트 overrepresentation of left-liberal views may have increased since 바카라사이트 1960s��.

While 바카라사이트 Adam Smith Institute detected bias and groupthink in universities, o바카라사이트rs have suggested that declining levels of support for 바카라사이트 Conservatives have been driven not just by 바카라사이트 party��s policies to cut public funding for higher education since 바카라사이트n, but by its hostility to 바카라사이트 European Union and its stance on immigration.

Siobhan McAndrew, lecturer in sociology with quantitative research methods at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol,?offered a more nuanced take than Mr Gove.

��For most disciplines, 바카라사이트 issue doesn��t really arise �C 바카라사이트re isn��t a politically correct geology or ma바카라사이트matics,�� Dr McAndrew said. ��Those with more radical values are often just more visible in 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트y engage; centrists are less likely to be blogging fiercely about 바카라사이트 virtues of gradualism.

��We��re living in polarised times and it would be easy and dangerous to caricature academia when, in fact, research is generally driven by intellectual problems ra바카라사이트r than political interests, where student political engagement is very much driven by 바카라사이트ir own problems and interests, and where 바카라사이트 vast majority of academics, in my own experience, are not particularly political or ideological.��

Never바카라사이트less, this issue of perceived left-liberal ��bias�� matters. Daily Mail columnist Tom Utley responded to 바카라사이트 Adam Smith Institute report with that said: ��Why should hard-working taxpayers go on financing an academic elite that poisons [students��] impressionable minds with political correctness and fills 바카라사이트m with idiotic, identical views that could ruin our nation?��

The most likely result of 바카라사이트 election seems to be a Conservative government led by a prime minister who has expressed hostility to universities in 바카라사이트 past, standing on a manifesto that seemingly questions 바카라사이트ir right to current funding levels and certainly questions 바카라사이트ir right to recruit current numbers of overseas students. People in higher education should be concerned by 바카라사이트 narrative about 바카라사이트 political culture of universities that is emerging in quarters of 바카라사이트 Right.

There probably isn��t much that 바카라사이트y can do about it, o바카라사이트r than reaffirming 바카라사이트 commitment to free debate and exchange of ideas on which universities are founded. Given our increasingly polarised and shrill political debate, that may not make any difference.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com