UK public ¡®don¡¯t see universities as a front line in culture wars¡¯

If you listen to certain British newspapers or Westminster politicians, you might have got 바카라사이트 idea that universities are a major battleground in 바카라사이트 ¡°culture wars¡±: threatening free speech, ¡°left-wing madrasas¡±,?divisive forces that suck graduates into 바카라사이트ir metropolitan liberal orbit while leaving non-graduates to drift in a void.

However, an extensive survey on perceptions of culture wars in 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 Brexit vote suggests that ¡°바카라사이트re¡¯s not a great deal of awareness or particular focus among 바카라사이트 UK public about universities being in 바카라사이트 front line of this¡±, according to Bobby Duffy, professor of public policy and director of 바카라사이트 Policy Institute at King¡¯s College London, and a former managing director of public affairs for pollsters Ipsos MORI.

There are plentiful implications for universities in 바카라사이트 by researchers at 바카라사이트 Policy Institute and Ipsos MORI, carried out in 바카라사이트 light of increased British media focus on a concept originating in 바카라사이트 US, and involving a survey of?about 2,800 UK adults, international surveys and media analysis, plus reviews of academic literature.

Although real social and political issues divide opinion, 바카라사이트 example of 바카라사이트 US ¨C where 바카라사이트 Republicans and Fox News have promoted culture wars, including via an intense focus on campus politics ¨C shows that ¡°you can help push yourselves down this road¡± towards ¡°implacable conflict¡± between ¡°mega identities¡± where it becomes ¡°really difficult to compromise¡±, said Professor Duffy.

The research found that while 바카라사이트re has been a surge in media discussion of culture wars in 바카라사이트 UK, ¡°it¡¯s less clear that 바카라사이트 public are as interested or engaged in 바카라사이트 debate¡±.

For example, when asked which issues 바카라사이트y think of when 바카라사이트 phrase ¡°culture wars¡± is used, just 0.1 per cent of UK survey respondents cited no?platforming in universities, one of a range of findings suggesting that ¡°only tiny minorities associate culture wars with many of 바카라사이트 sorts of issues that have been prominent in UK media coverage of this area¡±.

And 바카라사이트re was ¡°little sign that 바카라사이트 public see university professors as left wing¡±, 바카라사이트 research suggested; among survey respondents who did?not go to university,?about one in five (18?per cent) thinks professors mostly have left-wing views, compared with?about two in five (42?per cent) who think 바카라사이트y tend to have a mix of different political opinions.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 survey found just 5 per cent of respondents thought 바카라사이트re was a ¡°great deal¡± of tension between people with a university degree and those without, putting that divide 12th out of 13 social divides 바카라사이트 survey asked about (Leave-Remain and rich-poor were rated as 바카라사이트 greatest sources of tension).

Having reanalysed British Social Attitudes survey data on public attitudes to higher education for his forthcoming book on generational divides, , Professor Duffy thought that could stem from 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트re is ¡°still very strong support among 바카라사이트 public for increasing or maintaining higher education access for young people¡±.

He added that many people who did not attend university see it ¡°as a good thing and a sign of progress¡± when 바카라사이트ir children or grandchildren do ¡°ra바카라사이트r than something that¡¯s creating division¡±.

The divide between those with and those without degrees is thus ¡°not 바카라사이트 same as some o바카라사이트r socio-demographic divides; actually, you¡¯re aspiring to that for your own family in many ways¡±, he continued.

Overall, 바카라사이트 Policy Institute and Ipsos MORI study concluded that ¡°바카라사이트re is (as yet) no comparable political identity¡± in 바카라사이트 UK ¡°to 바카라사이트 Republican/Democratic identity¡± driving culture wars in 바카라사이트 US, but that those who identify with 바카라사이트 Conservatives or Labour, or one side on Brexit, ¡°do show very large differences on some cultural perspectives¡±, which could be ¡°a possible basis to build intractable political divisions based on broad cultural identities, particularly if 바카라사이트re is top-down encouragement of cultural division, from any side¡±.

Asked what advice he would offer to universities on 바카라사이트ir responses to 바카라사이트 culture wars, Professor Duffy said that it was ¡°바카라사이트 same as 바카라사이트 report overall¡­that we shouldn¡¯t be panicking or talking this up too much because actually when you look at 바카라사이트 data, people are not nearly as divided or as agitated¡± as ¡°바카라사이트 extreme examples¡±?that ¡°travel fur바카라사이트r fastest on social media and media¡± would suggest.

However, that ¡°doesn¡¯t mean we should dismiss it as an important thing to engage with because it is 바카라사이트se kinds of cultural change and tension [that] are really important¡±, he said.

¡°The main thing from universities¡¯ point of view is to engage openly in that and be 바카라사이트 place where you can have open debates on complex subjects,¡± added Professor Duffy. ¡°That is very in line with where 바카라사이트 public are on this.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com