Former Head of Politics at Birkbeck, University of London, Eric Kaufmann, is set to establish a “Centre for Heterodox Social Science” at the University of Buckingham after being canceled by his students. Here’s the whole story.
The Aim
This new academic venture plans to champion the principles of academic free speech and delve into contentious topics like trans rights and critical race theory.
A Long Campaign
Kaufmann’s decision to forge ahead with this initiative comes on the heels of what he describes as a five-year-long campaign to oust him from Birkbeck due to his right-leaning viewpoints.
A Difficult Decision
After two decades in academia, he decided to depart from the university in August, citing a relentless assault on his intellectual freedom.
Kaufmann Was Canceled
“I was canceled by 1,000 cuts. Academia should be about the advancement of knowledge but you’re not allowed to advance theories which go against the progressive narrative,” Kaufmann said.
Illiberal Progressives
He added, “The climate at British universities has worsened because morally absolutist, often younger, illiberal progressives are using pressure, public reputational attacks, and social media to limit academic freedom.”
A Target-Rich Environment
Kaufmann’s concerns extend beyond the confines of academia, as he believes this “woke ideology” poses a significant threat to the very foundations of society.
He said, “It’s a target-rich environment. The woke left can make your life hell and they know it. You worry about saying the wrong thing in class so you make it vanilla. You worry about getting your research grant so you self-censor.”
Woke Ideology
“I believe this new woke ideology threatens the foundations of our civilization. Every parent in the UK – and around the world – should be concerned at how far it has penetrated into our universities, schools and elite institutions,” he continued.
A Liberal-Conservative
Facing accusations of being a white supremacist and a racist apologist, Kaufmann, who himself is of diverse heritage, defends his positions as “liberal-conservative.”
He shared that he has weathered a barrage of social media abuse and undergone three internal inquiries, all stemming from contentious student evaluations.
White Identity Politics
An open letter addressed to the Master of Birkbeck also sought Kaufmann’s dismissal, citing his alleged defense of “white identity politics” and criticism of movements like Black Lives Matter.
The Course
The inaugural course, titled “Woke: the Origins, Dynamics, and Implications of an Elite Ideology,” is scheduled to commence in January.
This course promises to be a cornerstone of the new Centre for Heterodox Social Science, which seeks to be a bastion for diverse perspectives and unfettered academic exploration.
Twitter Users Expressed Their Views
Several social media users shared their thoughts on the incident.
One Twitter user wrote, “Funny how canceled culture is now unacceptable when it affects a certain side of the political spectrum. Suck it up, you invented this s***.”
Woke Ideology Should Be Shut Down
Another user commented, “Prof. Kaufmann (and others) should abandon these progressive woke institutions and leave them (the students) to ruin their own lives by destroying their chances of creating financially rewarding careers for themselves. Universities promoting woke ideology should be shut down.”
Left-Wing and Idealistic
A third user commented, “I remember the days when all we had to worry about was students being a little left-wing and idealistic – ultimately growing out of it once they got a career and some responsibility.”
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The post “The Woke Left Can Make Your Life Hell” – University Professor Establishes New Course “Woke: The Origins, Dynamics, and Implications of an Elite Ideology” at Centre for Heterodox Social Science first appeared on Wealthy Living.
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