Political Sociology, Education - Philosophy & Social Aspects, Education - Political Aspects, Higher Education - General & Miscellaneous, Multicultural Education, Education Policies, U.S. Politics & Government - General & Miscellaneous, Education, Philosop

The Imperiled Academy

Name: The Imperiled Academy
Author: Howard Dickman
ISBN: 9781560006756

by Howard Dickman

Available on Bookshop Write a review

Books.org participates in affiliate programs including Bookshop.org and the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.

Overview

The influence of movements promoting multiculturalism and political correctness on university campuses has become pervasive - affecting decisions on admissions and hiring, changes in the curriculum, and the implementation of codes governing speech. Yet these movements are not without their detractors: those who view recent developments as a threat to academic freedom. The contributors to The Imperiled Academy - nine prominent academics and specialists in history, government, philosophy, law, and public policy - assess the current state of American universities and their prospects for the future. Daniel Bonevac explores an apparent tension between the multiculturalist and political-correctness movements, noting that while one seeks to promote pluralism and diversity, the other seeks to limit the expression of views deemed offensive. Yet the two movements are allied. Bonevac contends that they have gained support by putting forward appealing pluralistic rhetoric which tends to obscure their illiberal and highly political agenda. Stanley Rothman attempts to understand recent trends at American universities by looking at the history of higher education and by relating changes there to changes in the role of intellectuals and, more broadly, in the character of Western culture. Seymour Martin Lipset views recent events in academia as expressions of a distinctive American moralism, involving a belief in the perfectibility of humanity, in the obligation to avoid sin, and in the righteousness of moral crusades. Eric Mack relates the views of today's multiculturalists to those of historian of ideas Isaiah Berlin, whose work presents a thoughtful and often neglected examination of the nature of diversity. Lino Graglia explores the use of racial preferences to achieve diversity in university admissions, arguing that affirmative-action programs are the primary cause of increased racial tensions on campuses and the source of demands for ethnic studies programs and "hate spee

Reviews

There are no reviews yet. Log in to write one.

Editorials

Library Journal

In this collection, nine essays assess the current state of American universities and their prospects for the future. The contributors analyze the cultural and intellectual disputes concerning relativism, multiculturalism, and radical feminism, all of which affect higher education today. In general, the authors consider affirmative action programs as the primary reason for increased racial tensions on campus. Although multiculturalists strive for the elimination of inequalities based on race, class, and sex, they succeed in fueling conflict within universities. The proper role of the university and the mission of higher education in the context of these consequential political and social movements are examined. This timely and significant book will appeal to academic collections serving university administrators and educators.-- Samuel T. Huang, Northern Illinois Univ. Libs., DeKalb

Booknews

A senior editor of Reader's Digest has assembled nine essays by academics who take aim at multiculturalism and political correctitude as undermining the free speech and intellectual purity of American universities. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)