Attacking the Elites

Attacking the Elites illuminates the ongoing debate surrounding elite American universities like Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. Admired globally, these institutions attract highly qualified applicants, with most of their graduates leading successful lives. Moreover, their scientists contribute significantly to public knowledge, such as the development of COVID-19 vaccines.

Despite these accolades, these twenty-odd universities face criticism from both sides of America's ideological divide. Liberals urge them to enrol more low-income students and leverage their reputations and endowments to influence corporations towards adopting more just, equitable, and ecological business practices. Conversely, conservative politicians allege that the predominantly liberal faculty indoctrinates students. Adding to the controversy, a recent Supreme Court ruling against preferential treatment for Black and Hispanic applicants in admissions has intensified discussions regarding the policies these universities use to select their student body.

Drawing on over fifty years of experience as a student, professor, dean, and president of Harvard University, Derek Bok delves into the current disputes over admissions, diversity, academic freedom and political correctness, curriculum and teaching, and even athletics. His examination seeks to discern which criticisms are baseless, which hold validity, and how elite universities might better address their detractors.