Review by Choice Review
Sociologists Binder (Univ. of California, San Diego) and Kidder (Northern Illinois Univ.) have conducted a rare study of conservative and progressive politically engaged students at four state universities to determine the channels by which both groups gather support on and off campus. Conservative activists are supported by outside organizations such as Turning Point USA and PragerU, while liberal activists receive support from NextGen America and US PIRG. Using semi-structured interviews, this qualitative study illuminates large differences between the ideologically split groups in achieving their goals. Using the issue of free speech on campus to illustrate their thesis, the authors show that conservatives rally around unfettered free speech, while liberals lack a unifying stand. Their interviews reveal that campus conservatives are well funded by outside think tanks and foundations. Progressives receive far less funding from extramural groups, but they have the inside track on getting administrators' attention from working inside campus networks such as multicultural centers. The authors conclude that the more organized and better funded conservatives are winning the free speech battle, while progressives are divided over where to draw the line on offensive speech. They advocate for transpartisan dialogue efforts to encourage civility in campus debate. This is an important critique of political power on a polarized battleground. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; professionals. --Charles B. Thurston, formerly, University of Texas at San Antonio
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
