The Myth of the Liberal Professor

Abstract

Although social science professors are substantially further left politically than members of other professions, the popular stereotype of the professor has many exceptions. Physical and biological scientists, particularly those living outside the South, often identify with the Republican party and support Republican presidential candidates. A majority of professors describe themselves as being to the right of liberalism-a tendency that seems to be increasing-and the professorial life style does not appear to be particularly liberalizing. On campus issues such as academic reform, professors hold strongly to the status quo; further, they rarely become involved in campus protests. On the Vietnam issue, the evidence indicates that professors have not taken a consistent anti-war stand. Finally, the liberal inclinations of some professors are largely without substance in that liberals hardly differentiate themselves from conservatives on a variety of issues.