November 16, 2021 - 10:45am
People who oppose wokeness don’t speak from personal experience of an elite educated culture of repression, but do so for ideological reasons, claims Olga Khazan in a new piece for the Atlantic. Citing new polling data on cancel culture, she finds little difference between the opinions of those with university degrees, who one would expect to have experienced speech policing more, and those without. Instead, variation in opinion on political correctness and cancel culture largely revolves around whether one is a Republican or a Democrat.
There is truth to Khazan’s observation, but it misses the mark because the survey only asks people about their attitudes to cancel culture and identity politics rather than their personal experience of speech repression. It therefore lacks the instruments that would paint an accurate portrait of the reality of cancel culture and self-censorship.
The Atlantic poll found, in common with other surveys, that most Americans agree the country is too politically correct. But around 55% of both college and non-college educated respondents agreed. The share of respondents who say cancel culture is a problem is only slightly higher (51%) among those with degrees compared to those without (45%). From views on defunding the police, to using gender-neutral pronouns to endorsing the use of ‘Latinx’, only a few points separate college graduates from those with a high school diploma.
In many ways this is not surprising. Indeed, scholars of public opinion repeatedly find that people are generally more concerned about society than their own situation because they form their opinions from the media and peers, and are influenced by the ideological lens through which they view the world. In Britain, for instance, Bobby Duffy’s work showed that 70% of people thought immigration was a problem in the country, but only 20% said it was in their local area. Views on immigration and other emotive issues are shaped far more by perceptions of what is going on nationally than personal experience. Hence it is unsurprising that the Atlantic survey finds that 70% those who voted for Trump said ‘cancel culture is a big problem in society,’ compared with 31% of Biden voters.
So does that mean cancel culture is just a Right-wing moral panic? Not quite. Cato and YouGov’s 2020 National Survey of 2,000 adults — twice the sample of the Atlantic survey — showed that 32% of Americans said they personally worried about missing out on career opportunities or losing their job if their political opinions became known. Overall, 23% of those without a degree worried compared to 34% of those with one, a statistically significant difference. 62% of Americans also said the ‘political climate these days prevents me from saying what I believe.’ On this question there was no significant difference between those with a college education and those without.
Emily Ekins, who authored the study, was kind enough to share the raw data with me. The numbers show that exposure to higher education really matters for how fearful conservatives are about expressing themselves. There are also important demographic differences. Young people, men and those who live in more ethnically diverse ZIP codes — all indicators of potential exposure to more sensitive speech environments — are significantly more fearful of their views becoming known.
Let’s focus on education level. In figure 1, controlling for age, gender, race and the share of minorities in ZIP code, we can see that among those who voted for Trump, those with higher levels of education are more worried about their career if their views became known. Among Trump voters with at least a Masters degree, 6 in 10 are worried for their careers.
And while there isn’t a difference based on education in answers to the question about being free to say what you believe, there is when you break the results down by 2016 vote. As figure 2 shows, the higher a Trump voter’s level of education, the more they feel they have to self-censor. The reverse is true for Democratic and Independent voters, who feel less need to self-censor the more educated they are.
Views on cancel culture, defunding the police and using gender-neutral pronouns are generally determined by ideology and partisanship. But when it comes to feeling the chill of cancel culture and self-censorship, characteristics which increase a person’s exposure to a more politically-correct environment — such as being young, male, or inhabiting a highly educated or diverse milieu — really matter.
Eric Kaufmann is Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham and author of Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Led to a Cultural Revolution (Forum Press, 4 July).
epkaufm
Join the discussion
Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber
To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.
Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.
SubscribeIt’s really nice to see even-handed and down to earth coverage of this topic for a change. Whenever I see it come up in western media, it’s inevitably hysteria about the lack of progress and/or fear-mongering about what the Serbs are up to (with the standard implication being that it’s probably something evil).
Self-determination (i.e. the right to secede) based on ethnic composition of a region is a double-edged sword and the fact is, Pandora’s box has already been opened in Kosovo, it’s just that the West is pretending that it hasn’t.
With Kosovos independence, the question now becomes “why can’t Serb (or whichever) majorities in a given region secede, provided they want to?” and the answer is usually because it doesn’t suit the West and as such there is no answer that is both consistent with western rhetoric and aligns with their goals, so there are few solutions to be had (just look at Bosnia). In the interest of fairness, I will add that the local actors in this case don’t make it easier, for obvious reasons.
However, this is still very much a case of cake-ism, to borrow a phrase, and once again exposes the hypocrisy of western diplomacy and the so-called “rules based international order”, since the rules are there for others to follow and the West to ignore.
Yes, refreshingly balanced and well researched article. Agree, about Pandora’s box already being opened, and the dangerous precedent being set. There are many such regions where ethnic and/or religious majority in the region is different to the whole country, and being somewhat unsatisfied with their status. Their independence movements have gained new energy and legitimacy with Kosovo development. It is indeed frequently pointed out whenever regional tensions arise. I guess that’s the reason certain countries (e.g. Spain) are very reluctant in recognition. Calling for international laws and norms is hypocritical. If majority of region democratically decides for independence should it be stopped? What if it’s Catalonia, or Scotland or Northern Ireland or Crimea or California… Pandora’s box indeed.
Self-determination need not be a problem. A decade ago, Czechoslovakia split into Czech Republic and Slovakia, along the pre-WW I historical border between the Austrian and the Hungarian halves of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both have reasonably prospered and neither has been “behaviourally conspicuous”.
Sorry, your example is totally incommensurate with this scenario.
I agree. The point of my comment was to reflect on: Why?
I agree. The point of my comment was to reflect on: Why?
Sorry, your example is totally incommensurate with this scenario.
Exactly. Kosovo good, Abkhazia/Ossetia/Crimea/Occupied Palestine bad. Funny old world
Nice take. Of course, it was Tito who largely shifted the ethnic balance in Kosovo toward Albanian, though without the unintended consequences. A quick but thorough review of the role of Albania in various destabilising events and activities in northern Europe signals that peeling off Kosovo to hurt Russia is not exactly helping Europe. But our American ally doesn’t much care about European interests.
Your answered your own question.
“With Kosovos independence, the question now becomes “why can’t Serb (or whichever) majorities in a given region secede, provided they want to?”
Without going back to history, which you know just as well, Albanians were and still are majority in Kosovo. Serbs were not and still are not. And if you want a minority of 3-5% to be allowed to secede in Kosovo then allow Albanians in Serbia, N. Macedonia, Monte Negro too. While you are at it, let people of Sanxhak and Vojvodina, too!
Yes, refreshingly balanced and well researched article. Agree, about Pandora’s box already being opened, and the dangerous precedent being set. There are many such regions where ethnic and/or religious majority in the region is different to the whole country, and being somewhat unsatisfied with their status. Their independence movements have gained new energy and legitimacy with Kosovo development. It is indeed frequently pointed out whenever regional tensions arise. I guess that’s the reason certain countries (e.g. Spain) are very reluctant in recognition. Calling for international laws and norms is hypocritical. If majority of region democratically decides for independence should it be stopped? What if it’s Catalonia, or Scotland or Northern Ireland or Crimea or California… Pandora’s box indeed.
Self-determination need not be a problem. A decade ago, Czechoslovakia split into Czech Republic and Slovakia, along the pre-WW I historical border between the Austrian and the Hungarian halves of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Both have reasonably prospered and neither has been “behaviourally conspicuous”.
Exactly. Kosovo good, Abkhazia/Ossetia/Crimea/Occupied Palestine bad. Funny old world
Nice take. Of course, it was Tito who largely shifted the ethnic balance in Kosovo toward Albanian, though without the unintended consequences. A quick but thorough review of the role of Albania in various destabilising events and activities in northern Europe signals that peeling off Kosovo to hurt Russia is not exactly helping Europe. But our American ally doesn’t much care about European interests.
Your answered your own question.
“With Kosovos independence, the question now becomes “why can’t Serb (or whichever) majorities in a given region secede, provided they want to?”
Without going back to history, which you know just as well, Albanians were and still are majority in Kosovo. Serbs were not and still are not. And if you want a minority of 3-5% to be allowed to secede in Kosovo then allow Albanians in Serbia, N. Macedonia, Monte Negro too. While you are at it, let people of Sanxhak and Vojvodina, too!
It’s really nice to see even-handed and down to earth coverage of this topic for a change. Whenever I see it come up in western media, it’s inevitably hysteria about the lack of progress and/or fear-mongering about what the Serbs are up to (with the standard implication being that it’s probably something evil).
Self-determination (i.e. the right to secede) based on ethnic composition of a region is a double-edged sword and the fact is, Pandora’s box has already been opened in Kosovo, it’s just that the West is pretending that it hasn’t.
With Kosovos independence, the question now becomes “why can’t Serb (or whichever) majorities in a given region secede, provided they want to?” and the answer is usually because it doesn’t suit the West and as such there is no answer that is both consistent with western rhetoric and aligns with their goals, so there are few solutions to be had (just look at Bosnia). In the interest of fairness, I will add that the local actors in this case don’t make it easier, for obvious reasons.
However, this is still very much a case of cake-ism, to borrow a phrase, and once again exposes the hypocrisy of western diplomacy and the so-called “rules based international order”, since the rules are there for others to follow and the West to ignore.
The Serbs remember Muslim domination, it’s baked into their DNA. Same with the Hungarians. The far West — Britain, Sweden etc. — thinks that Islamization is the woke thing, the fashionable thing. The Serbs and the Hungarians and the Macedonians know better. Albanians enjoy one of the most broken cultures on the planet; the Serbs want nothing to do with it and they are prudent not to.
The Serbs remember Muslim domination, it’s baked into their DNA. Same with the Hungarians. The far West — Britain, Sweden etc. — thinks that Islamization is the woke thing, the fashionable thing. The Serbs and the Hungarians and the Macedonians know better. Albanians enjoy one of the most broken cultures on the planet; the Serbs want nothing to do with it and they are prudent not to.
As with N.Ireland, how can a critique of this Kosovo conflict be significant … if it has NO mention of religion?
Bingo.
Bingo.
As with N.Ireland, how can a critique of this Kosovo conflict be significant … if it has NO mention of religion?
Fascinating how concepts of human rights, war crimes and self determination are wholly dependent on what serves the interests of various powers.
So, non Serbian parts of Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Kosovo, one rule.
East Ukraine Russians, Kosovo Serbians or Kurds in Turkey, too bad.
And imagine if anyone other than China were doing what they are with the Uighurs.
Fascinating how concepts of human rights, war crimes and self determination are wholly dependent on what serves the interests of various powers.
So, non Serbian parts of Yugoslavia, Ukraine, Kosovo, one rule.
East Ukraine Russians, Kosovo Serbians or Kurds in Turkey, too bad.
And imagine if anyone other than China were doing what they are with the Uighurs.
Oh what tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!
NATO started a completely illegal war against Serbia in 1999, based on blatant lies, and goaded a terrorist-ridden Kosovar cabal to declare independence, even though the EU-mediated deconfliction administration had pledged not to change the political status of Kosovo. Kosovo survives today purely on the graces of the US, and is home to one of the largest US bases abroad, Camp Bondsteel.
Russia warned NATO and the EU not to create an international-law precedent, but NATO and the EU ploughed ahead anyway. The result is that many NATO countries do not recognise Kosovo, and NATO’s Kosovo caper served Russia as international-law template for the reabsorption of Crimea.
The latest crisis developed when NATO leveraged the EU to put pressure on Serbia to make Serbia give up its neutral stance between the EU and Russia, and join the EU’s economic war sanctions against Russia.
So – yes, no doubt, if there were a willingness on the side of the puppet masters to not only allow a resolution, but knock some heads together locally to discourage grandiose notions of past glories and heady revanchism, then the issue could be resolved. Unfortunately, the EU has decided to abandon its decades-long track record of burying centuries-old grievances under a blanket of unideological prosperity, strong minority protection and freedom of movement, and has instead become a blatantly militarised extension of a Neocon-weaponised NATO, so that solution, that brought the formerly fascist military dictatorships Greece, Portugal and Spain into the European mainstream, is no longer available.
We’ve created quite a mess. Mr. Borrell would do well to worry more about the NATO boar he is allowing to rampage in our European garden than about the peaceful jungle outside our borders.
Oh what tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!
NATO started a completely illegal war against Serbia in 1999, based on blatant lies, and goaded a terrorist-ridden Kosovar cabal to declare independence, even though the EU-mediated deconfliction administration had pledged not to change the political status of Kosovo. Kosovo survives today purely on the graces of the US, and is home to one of the largest US bases abroad, Camp Bondsteel.
Russia warned NATO and the EU not to create an international-law precedent, but NATO and the EU ploughed ahead anyway. The result is that many NATO countries do not recognise Kosovo, and NATO’s Kosovo caper served Russia as international-law template for the reabsorption of Crimea.
The latest crisis developed when NATO leveraged the EU to put pressure on Serbia to make Serbia give up its neutral stance between the EU and Russia, and join the EU’s economic war sanctions against Russia.
So – yes, no doubt, if there were a willingness on the side of the puppet masters to not only allow a resolution, but knock some heads together locally to discourage grandiose notions of past glories and heady revanchism, then the issue could be resolved. Unfortunately, the EU has decided to abandon its decades-long track record of burying centuries-old grievances under a blanket of unideological prosperity, strong minority protection and freedom of movement, and has instead become a blatantly militarised extension of a Neocon-weaponised NATO, so that solution, that brought the formerly fascist military dictatorships Greece, Portugal and Spain into the European mainstream, is no longer available.
We’ve created quite a mess. Mr. Borrell would do well to worry more about the NATO boar he is allowing to rampage in our European garden than about the peaceful jungle outside our borders.
I remember several hundred Serbs being kicked out of Kosovo.
Just see the facts. Also mass graves on SERBIA . Then you will undestand why NATO attacked serbia.
I remember a million of Albanians being kicked out of Kosovo! I remember several thousands of Albanian women and children being raped, killed by Serbian neighbours and militia. Dead bodies found in Serbia’s rivers and other part of Serbia. I still hear that many Albanian mothers are waiting to know for the bodies of their disappeared kids, buried in Serbia.
Do you still want me to go on and tell you what I still remember?
Just see the facts. Also mass graves on SERBIA . Then you will undestand why NATO attacked serbia.
I remember a million of Albanians being kicked out of Kosovo! I remember several thousands of Albanian women and children being raped, killed by Serbian neighbours and militia. Dead bodies found in Serbia’s rivers and other part of Serbia. I still hear that many Albanian mothers are waiting to know for the bodies of their disappeared kids, buried in Serbia.
Do you still want me to go on and tell you what I still remember?
I remember several hundred Serbs being kicked out of Kosovo.