Academic bias?
10.21.2004I had a really interesting (if somewhat uncomfortable) conversation in class today about why academics are liberally-biased. Actually, the student asked why most political scientists are left-leaning, but I thought it best to "open it up" so's to "cover my ass" as much as possible. But. Since all student questions are fair, I had to provide some semblance of an answer.
I suggested that, essentially, many fields are biased because they attract people w/ a specific bias to begin w/. Journalism's a classic example. It attracts people who question authority, who want to bring "truth" to "the people", etc. No surprise that studies find an overwhelming majority of journalists tend to vote Democrat.
But academic professions like sociology & political science tend to attract people who already lean left. I mean, look at what academic's study, and how the fields are broken down & categorized. This is especially true if you work for a state university. After all, it's difficult to oppose "big government" if your economic existence depends on a big government dedicated to promoting public education. Also, liberal arts types are perfect for the public university's broader goal, which spends public money to promote arts, culture, activism, etc.
Other disciplines, of course, tend to attract more conservative people. Like economics.
Let me give a very specific example: When was the last time you heard of an academic book, by a political scientist, by a "Latinamericanist" no less, argue that Pinochet's dictatorship was good for Chile? Most political science treatments start w/ the ideological assumption (an assumption I share, btw) that dictatorships are bad. You can, however, find books written by economists arguing that Pinochet's economic policies helped the economy.
There's also the bias inherent in what we call "socialization into the discipline" — something that happens automatically. In political science, we spend a great deal of time learning what kinds of data matter, what kinds of methods are most relevant, and what kinds of questions are "interesting". How could that not influence attitudes & beliefs?
Of course, every individual — regardless of his/her position — has individual political beliefs. These are biases. The trick is to compensate for them. Especially in a classroom. Because a classroom should be a forum for learning, not indoctrination — for either side.
Posted by Miguel at 01:03 PM
Comments
Try being an ed major around here who leans right. Not the easiest thing in the world. Part of me wants to start some type of chatroom dedicated to it, but I'm sure there's already one out there. And the chatroom would be dedicated to republicans, libertarians, conservatives, and the few anarchists out there. I mean I know I'm not alone, but being one of the few people in my class who doesn't seethe at the sound of Bush's name can make you feel that way.
Posted by: Kara at October 21, 2004 01:14 PM
Miguel, I think I read on your blog that you are teaching PSCI 250 (International Politics) this semester.
When I read your post I was reminded of that class which I took in Fall 1998. Dr. Benfell held it and it was great. He truly lived up to the spirit you mention.
"a classroom should be a forum for learning, not indoctrination"
Posted by: Marco at October 21, 2004 06:18 PM
As an economist I must make a comment clarifying what Miguel said about Economists.
It is not that those economists who argue Pinochet policies helped the Chilean economy are, per se, consevatives or right leaning or supporters of dictatorships. Of, course that could be the case, however, I think as an economist one looks at the policies themselves, regardless of the fact that they come from a dictator or a democraticly elected president.
The policies follow a certain reasoning which have helped spur growth in Chile, of which results we can observe today.
Now, within the field of Economics, one can find political currents. For example, Reganomics or the Clintonite Free Traders. These "economists" are not really consedered serious economists within the field. At the same time, serious economists also have their own currents which in some level could indicate a political direction. On the left one could find, for example, Keynsianism. On the right, Monetarism, Ricardian theory, and Neo Classical Theory. However, there is a serious attempt to concentrate on the theory and leave politics to the politicians.
By the way, did you know this?
Q. What do economists and computers have in common ?
A. You need to punch information into both of them.
Posted by: MB at October 22, 2004 07:11 AM