One of the least tolerant places around is the US university campus, with its speech codes, disdain for dissenting social and cultural opinions, voluntary self-censorship, and slavish devotion to political correctness. “Diversity” is the mantra, but diversity of opinion on economics, history, and politics is generally unacceptable. So, what are US professors worried about? China, of course. The Association of American University Professors recently issued an official statement of concern about Confucius Institutes, Chinese government-affiliated nonprofits that promote Chinese culture on US university campuses such as Stanford, Chicago, Texas A&M, UCLA, Michigan, and many others. “Confucius Institutes function as an arm of the Chinese state and are allowed to ignore academic freedom,” says the AAUP, most of whose members work for state universities or are paid from government grants and other funds. “North American universities permit Confucius Institutes to advance a state agenda in the recruitment and control of academic staff, in the choice of curriculum, and in the restriction of debate.” Perhaps they learned from the CIA, which has many years of experience advancing US state interests in the guise of educational and cultural programs. In any case, the irony of the largely intolerant US professoriate calling out the Chinese for intolerance has been lost on most observers.Intolerant US Professors Call Out China for Intolerance
One of the least tolerant places around is the US university campus, with its speech codes, disdain for dissenting social and cultural opinions, voluntary self-censorship, and slavish devotion to political correctness. “Diversity” is the mantra, but diversity of opinion on economics, history, and politics is generally unacceptable. So, what are US professors worried about? China, of course. The Association of American University Professors recently issued an official statement of concern about Confucius Institutes, Chinese government-affiliated nonprofits that promote Chinese culture on US university campuses such as Stanford, Chicago, Texas A&M, UCLA, Michigan, and many others. “Confucius Institutes function as an arm of the Chinese state and are allowed to ignore academic freedom,” says the AAUP, most of whose members work for state universities or are paid from government grants and other funds. “North American universities permit Confucius Institutes to advance a state agenda in the recruitment and control of academic staff, in the choice of curriculum, and in the restriction of debate.” Perhaps they learned from the CIA, which has many years of experience advancing US state interests in the guise of educational and cultural programs. In any case, the irony of the largely intolerant US professoriate calling out the Chinese for intolerance has been lost on most observers.All Rights Reserved ©
Note: The views expressed on Mises.org are not necessarily those of the Mises Institute.
