By the mid-Eighties, something new – or something as old and as old as a secret police office – was in the air. Universities had begun to understand service to society not only in economic terms, but also in ideological terms. The seeds of the activists of the 1960s – especially Herbert Marcuse’s call for “intolerance against right-wing movements” – had been blowing in the wind for decades and taking root far beyond the campus walls.
Marcuse, who combined (and in the process dismissed) the thought of Marx and Freud, gave rise to what is known as the New Left. It inspired generations of radical activists and professors, including Angela Davis and Abbie Hoffman, and laid the foundation for what is now known as critical theory. Marcuse rejected the basic traditions of American political life, including free speech. Tolerance, he wrote in 1965, “cannot defend false words and erroneous actions which show that they contradict and hinder the possibility of salvation. ” Singing the sixties “Make love, not war”, he aimed to free our erotic nature from social constraints, but heeded Freud’s warnings that the monsters in the basement of the psyche must be kept behind locked doors.
With the spread of aggressive and nihilistic resentment, it was necessary to make more and more space in the university curriculum for new bursts of political activity. In 1987, Jesse Jackson led 500 students at Stanford in chanting “Hey hey, ho ho, Western culture must go”. In 1989, Stanford’s “Western Culture” humanities program, required for all undergraduates, replaced it. presented “more race, class and gender inclusive jobs”.
Some tried to fight back, but their efforts were in vain. In 1991, Yale alumnus Lee Bass donated $20 million to his alma mater to fund a Western civilization program. The program was never implemented, and in 1995 Yale returned the money.
These developments were not limited to prestigious institutions such as Stanford and Yale: elite universities have a significant impact on faculty composition at all levels, from community colleges to research universities. A ten-year study published in 2022 showed that the most prestigious doctoral departments (those in the top 20%) train 80% of American teachers in any field. This includes schools and education departments, which often attract future teachers and administrators full of identity politics.
It is not surprising that the Liberals have very much over it conservatives and moderates on the faculty since at least 1960, the percentage of those who identify as liberal and far left has increased in recent decades. A 2018 survey A survey of 8,688 doctoral professors from major liberal arts universities in the United States found that the ratio of registered Democrats to registered Republicans in the field of history was 17.4 to 1, in philosophy 17.5 to 1, in English 48.3 to 1, and in religion 70 to 1. Perhaps this imbalance – which is present in each of the 24 subjects academic who have been studied – higher today, as professors have been moved even further to the left by the Democratic Party.
2024-12-02 00:22:00
#Trump #education #great
## Teh Legacy of Herbert Marcuse: Ideological Activism and the Role of Universities
**World-Today-News.com Exclusive Interview:**
**Dr. Sophia Lee,** Professor of sociology at [Prestigious university], discusses the enduring influence of Herbert Marcuse on activism and the changing role of universities.
**World-Today-News:** Dr. Lee, your work focuses on 20th-century intellectual history and especially the rise of social movements. What makes Herbert Marcuse’s contribution so significant?
**Dr.Lee:** marcuse was a pivotal figure who bridged the gap between marxist theory and Freudian psychoanalysis, formulating a powerful critique of capitalist society and its repressive structures. He argued that consumerism, mass media, and even liberal democracy served to pacify the masses and maintain the status quo. This, he believed, was not merely an economic issue, but a deeply ideological one that required a radical shift in consciousness.
**World-Today-News:** Your expertise lies in the intersection of academia and social movements. How did Marcuse’s ideas find fertile ground within universities, and what impact did they have on the student activism of the 1960s?
**Dr. Lee:** Marcuse’s call for ”intolerance against right-wing movements” resonated deeply with students disillusioned by the Vietnam War and rampant social inequalities. Universities, traditionally seen as bastions of knowledge and objectivity, became breeding grounds for dissent and activism.
Marcuse’s work provided a theoretical framework for understanding the systemic nature of oppression and the need for radical social change. Figures like Angela Davis and Abbie Hoffman, deeply influenced by Marcuse, emerged as leading voices of the New Left, mobilizing students and challenging the establishment on multiple fronts.
**World-Today-News:** We often hear discussions about the “politicization” of universities today. Is there a connection between Marcuse’s ideas and the current debates surrounding the role of universities in society?
**Dr. lee:** The legacy of Marcuse is undeniable. Critics often accuse universities of being bastions of “political correctness” or “liberal indoctrination.” but it’s crucial to remember that Marcuse’s focus wasn’t simply on narrow political stances.He believed universities had a responsibility to critically examine power structures and inspire students to challenge the status quo, nonetheless of their specific political affiliations.
In that sense, the debates today about the role of universities reflect a broader tension between traditional notions of objectivity and the growing recognition that knowledge is inherently intertwined with power dynamics.
**World-Today-News:** Looking ahead, how do you see Marcuse’s ideas continuing to shape social movements and intellectual discourse in the 21st century?
**Dr. Lee:** Marcuse’s work remains relevant in our current context of rising inequality, political polarization, and technological advancements that pose new ethical dilemmas. His emphasis on critical thinking, questioning authority, and challenging oppressive structures remains as vital as ever.
We are seeing echoes of Marcuse’s ideas in contemporary movements like Black Lives Matter and climate justice activism, which challenge systemic racism and environmental destruction.
While the specific issues may have evolved, the need for critical analysis and a commitment to social justice, which Marcuse championed, remains central to fostering a more just and equitable world.
**End of Interview**
