Trends in Academic Intellectuals and Socialism

All for freedom and for pleasure
Nothing ever lasts forever
Everybody wants to rule the world
--Tears for Fears

Intellectuals are people who traffic in ideas for a living. They either create them or distribute them or both. Academic institutions such as universities are prime environments for intellectuals.

Hayek, Schumpeter, Sowell and others have considered why it is that intellectuals lean left and favor socialistic, Big Government policies. Intellectuals may lack practical experience and thus misunderstand markets. Or perhaps they feel underemployed and blame 'capitalism' for their lack of success. Maybe they obtain psychic income from promoting policies that force aggression and control upon others.

This article considers a different question. Why have university campuses in particular been trending in the direction of favoring and promoting socialistic policies?

One reason supplied by the author is a variation of resource dependence theory (Pfeffer & Salancik, 1978). Academic institutions increasingly depend on resources supplied by the State. As subsidies replace tuition as the dominant resource stream, institutions would be foolish to bite the hand that feeds them.

Beyond tangible rewards for kowtowing to the State, pyschological motivations exist as well. Academics, like most individuals, want to exert influence and feel important. Nurturing strong connections to the State provides an avenue for living out reformist fantasies via the strong arm of government.

Another reason that I'll offer is the movement of many college units, such as business schools, toward more theory/research and less application. A half century ago many college units were like professional or technical schools--very hands on. Professors primarily came from industry. Today, professors are much more research oriented; many lack substantial hands-on credentials.

Stated differently, universities were not always the magnet for left-leaning intellectuals that they have become today.

Reference

Pfeffer, J.& Salancik, G.R. 1978. The external control of organizations: A resource dependence perspective. New York: Harper & Row.