Why is it that liberalism is so common on Ivy League and prestigious college campuses?

Question

Opposed to some other branch of the political spectrum?

Answer 1

Very good question Thurs. Not easy to explain. But campuses encourage free thought and ideas, which is a good thing. But the average age group of most any campus is naturally proned to attitudes that oppose a set system. I put my time in at college too, and these opinions come from my experience. I drifted in that direction for a time. But my sense of right and wrong prevailed. I didn't like the liberalism after I realized most of it came from young people who - for what ever reason - had an under lying anger in their personalities. Combine this with arrogance, and you have a lot of, in your face liberals, most instructors included. Going one step further. This is the reason that 90 percent of our media leans hard left, because they too are the product of journalism originating from the campus. Both journalism and the campus environment are inherently left, and the disease perpetuates itself. Just keep doing what you're doing, and I will too.

Answer 2

I have a very conservative colleague who has asked me the same thing. I suspect that it has to do with the basis of scholarship, which is to question the status quo. In most fields, research involves overturning past assumptions and finding new explanations for phenomena. If you compare this to politics, and I'm not saying that everyone who votes in one direction or the other necessarily follows this, but it is the basic idea behind the spectrum, conservatives try to preserve the past that they see as good. They see change (other than that away from what they believe are liberal policies) as a bad thing. Liberals, on the other hand, see the past as being wrong-headed, and seek change toward some utopian ideal. Consequently, the same sort of person who would be attracted to a life of questioning in academia would be attracted to a political life which takes the same approach. Someone who thinks that we should leave well enough alone would find scholarly activity to be subversive in itself, and would also be more likely to be conservative.

You ask about Ivy League and prestigious campuses, and I do think that as the epitome of academia, liberal views may be a little bit more prevalent there than at some other places. On the other hand, the real radicals, in both political directions, are often at small liberal arts-type schools.

Ultra-conservatism does exist at some campuses as well. Every once in a while, as a business faculty member I get some sort of a mass mailing from a colleague at some other university who wants my support in pressuring the publishers to eliminate subject matters in the textbook which they find objectionable, and I always have to laugh at their assumption that as a business professor, I would necessarily be politically conservative.

Having said that, though, while my colleagues are well aware of my political bent, I personally believe that my personal beliefs have absolutely no place in the classroom. I do believe that students have every right to develop their own political beliefs, and this won't be accomplished by listening to their professors bash (or praise, for that matter) their parents' beliefs. I'm supportive of my students' political activities, even if for causes in which I don't personally believe, because I think it is preferable to be passionate about something than to be blase and let the world manipulate them.

Answer 3

Some might say it's because they come from privileged backgrounds and believe in a system where the poor can rise through the ranks. Some believe that money is the answer to all problems.

Answer 4

Someone has to do the thinking and planning.

Besides, Republicans have taken up all the taken away all the menial labor jobs by hiring illegals.

Answer 5

I think it has to do with the freedom to develop thought based upon proven theories----Versus ---this is truth don't you question it!

Answer 6

There is an inherent "snootiness," or I-am-better-than-you in liberalism.