Too many leftists books from Cal?
Reader comment on item: California [University Press] vs. Academic Freedom

Submitted by Steven Abrams (United States), Mar 30, 2004 at 16:52

Dr. Pipes -

I don't see how the preponderance of books with leftist themes coming out of the University of California Press endangers academic freedom or undermines the principle that "truth emerges from debate".

Sure, leftists are well-represented and vocal in the academic world - but there is no shortage of well-funded outlets for conservative views in American society. How is it that the publishing of sympathetic portrayals of The Weather Underground and tributes to Allen Ginsberg diminish the abilty for your views to be heard on campuses.

I find your articles and critiques most valuable when they concentrate on the culture and politics of the Middle East, and on the perverse tendency of some academics and people on the left to see Islamism as a sort of third world liberation movement. You are on shakier ground when you suggest that George W. Bush's handling of the "war on terrorism" is better than John Kerry's would be. (Please explain why!)


--Steven Abrams

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Daniel Pipes replies:

I explained why at http://www.danielpipes.org/article/1430.