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This topic has to do with academia in general, including the study of history. Objectively speaking, why do you think those in academia lean so much to the left, unrepresentative of the general population which is much more evenly balanced (ideologically-speaking)? At least, I presume that history professors have the same political leanings as professors in other disciplines.I ask this question after it came up this past week when I was talking with a (non-history) professor about academia in general. He thought it was the case because the "purists" made it to the top. I think he argued that this passion allowed them to make careers out of their studies. They then continue their beliefs and bring in others who share their views. The common man doesn't subscribe to these kinds of views because reality gets in the way (i.e. leftist views don't work in the real world).I thought this was interesting. Thoughts?
I would argue that Leftism really is representative of the population, or at least the college-educated population. If professors are like-minded, they'll fit in, if not they will be shunned or forced to quit. Same goes for students. There was an article in my local paper about Brown's student Republicans. There aren't many at all and some interviewed say they and their views are shunned by their peers and professors. A general question relating to the topic; are there such things as Left and Right leaning universities? Yale vs Harvard or Columbia vs Princeton for instance.
I have a couple of thoughts on this…1 - Tenured professors - or those that seek tenure - generally (as mentioned) are not part of the real world. They don't have calluses on their hands and don't have a thorough understanding of the "by the work of your hands and the sweat of your brow".2 - A college / university campus is insulated (speaking in generalizations here), and the leftist utopian is for the entire world to be insular -- everyone treated equally and protected... and necessities are met by an omnipotent overseer (government, college administration).College campuses don't "produce" anything. There is little in the way of physical goods produced (other than papers, tests, books, knowledge, etc... hard to run a society on that). Everyone has access to the library, dormatories, dining facilities, classrooms... it's all there, and people are free to pursue their intellectual passions. All of the necessities are taken care of and provided (through tuition monies and endowments). Trucks bring in the food to the dining facility - and the dining facility staff, as well as the staff that runs the physical plant, are largely invisible -- they generally are not a part of the the college society, they are apart from it.So, in my humble opinion, the leftist leaning of the college utopian society is self-perpetuating... provided that everyone's needs are met. Provided Mom & Dad, the endowment, or government student loans keep coming in and keep everything running smooth, it is an intellectual utopia. Nevermind what goes on outside the campus "walls".
I think the primary reason is that college professors are very idealistic, and idealists are almost always lefties. But then again, this doesn't apply across the board. Economics professors are usually not Marxists and Engineering professors usually are apolitical or moderate. Professors of the liberal arts (History, Sociology, Humanities, and Literature) are usually lefties and their grad students usually adopt what their mentors teach thus perpetuating the lefty trend.
I think many professors lean to the left because 1. They're daily lives are divorced from real-world experience.2. They feel that the left is more intellectually stimulating.and 3. As Vulture 6 has said they live in an idealized utopia in which their ideas don't have to fit reality.What I find even more amazing is the number of people that actually have to work for a living that are just as ideolgically left as the titans of academia. I find it amazing that anyone who has to actually work to put food on the table can hold to a leftist political creed. It goes against common sense that someone would be willing to part part with their hard earned dollar to support layabouts.
I agree with others about what has been said here. Interesting insights. But to push the question a bit further…the fact that leftists live in their own little utopia divorced from real world concerns seems to be a symptom, but what is the cause? I mean, what is attractive about liberal ideology to academics to begin with?I wonder if it has to do with the fact that these professors find fulfillment in breaking the foundation of Western culture, perhaps to an extent because it helps to rationalize their own behavior. Unlike the conservative professor who explains Western culture in terms of its successes in bringing society forward to where we are today, the liberal professor wants to explain it in terms of the oppression of groups, persons, and thoughts by powerful and wealthy groups and institutions throughout history. Doing this allows them to conclude that such oppression invalidates claims by the West to moral/cultural authority, and in this breakdown the new moral order must be picked up...by them! Kind of Nietzschean. Just a thought.
Most are malcontents who see social injustices as something that can be overcome rather than accepting that things are as they are.
Do you find there are more leftists teaching graduate than undergrad, or is there no difference?
Unlike the conservative professor who explains Western culture in terms of its successes in bringing society forward to where we are today, the liberal professor wants to explain it in terms of the oppression of groups, persons, and thoughts by powerful and wealthy groups and institutions throughout history.
I think that nails it. It seems some just can't stomach the "ugliness" of history. To them it's evil. They (leftists) just can't accept the fact that things had to happen the way they did.
The leftist idealists in academia and elsewhere can't seem to accept the fact that reality is often dirty. They also dont realize or don't care, I don't know which, that their actions enhance the perception of weakness that many of our enemies hold. I think Orwell said it best, and everyone should remeber this
Thousands of people sleep safe in their beds every night because there are rough men willing to violence on their behalf
The coke and a hug crowd has lost sight of what gives them the freedom and security they have.the quickest way to shut a leftist up is to challenge them to go try and talk a terrorist out of being a terrorist with love and understanding. Most seem to balk when challenged to put their own skins on the line for their supposed principles. Those that don't usually end up dead like those peace activists in the Gaza strip a few years ago.
I think you all make some very good points. I was thinking about this the other day, except it was Hollywood or artists in general. With the exception of Country music (generally speaking of course) I think actors/singers/artists all generally lean left. So I wondered this: Does acadenia and the arts have anything in common?
They're daily lives are divorced from real-world experience.
What do you think?
The common theme seems to be that elites of any stripe are removed from the daily grind of actually making a living and thus are free to come up with idealized, yet unrealistic plans and visions that they can then foist on the rest of us because they don't have to actually make a living and so have plenty of time on their hands.My run-on sentence of the day.
