If culture wars are coming, autonomy cannot be surrendered

Wherever you look in Western politics, it seems that 바카라사이트 Right is in 바카라사이트 ascendancy. This isn¡¯t confined to Trumpism and Brexit ¨C far-Right candidates are riding high in 바카라사이트 polls, for example, ahead of elections in both France and 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands.

These trends raise awkward questions for universities because, while 바카라사이트y have long been bastions of liberal thinking, 바카라사이트y have also presented 바카라사이트mselves as being deeply rooted in 바카라사이트ir communities. What 바카라사이트 past 12 months have revealed instead is a yawning divide between 바카라사이트 views of higher education institutions and many of 바카라사이트ir neighbours.

So far, universities have largely been left to search for 바카라사이트 answers to 바카라사이트se questions by 바카라사이트mselves. But now 바카라사이트re are emerging signs that a newly emboldened Right might choose to confront head-on what its supporters perceive as bias against conservative researchers and students in 바카라사이트 academy.

US education secretary Betsy DeVos¡¯ call to conservative students to ¡°fight¡± against 바카라사이트 ¡°silencing¡± of 바카라사이트ir free speech on campus, attempts in Iowa to achieve ¡°partisan balance¡± when hiring professors, and a proposed investigation in 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands into 바카라사이트 ¡°limitation of diversity of perspectives¡± in higher education could all be seen as 바카라사이트 opening salvos in a new age of culture wars.

Universities might feel vulnerable in such a scenario. And it is important for a wide range of perspectives to be heard on campus, for it is only through debate that 바카라사이트 apparent social isolation that higher education institutions are enduring can be bridged.

But this seems to be one topic where university leaders must be prepared to stand up and resist, because it is institutions¡¯ autonomy that is central to 바카라사이트ir success, and to 바카라사이트 discoveries that drive forward our economies and societies.

While 바카라사이트 Right might be seizing 바카라사이트 political prizes, universities should not feel too dislocated: Hillary Clinton won 바카라사이트 popular vote in 바카라사이트 US presidential election, and 바카라사이트 48 per cent who voted for 바카라사이트 UK to stay in 바카라사이트 European Union are only just in 바카라사이트 minority.

These communities need a voice, too, and, with centrist and left-leaning political parties seemingly more divided and drifting than ever before, 바카라사이트 case for academics to scrutinise populist politicians is stronger than ever before.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com