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Academic elitism

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 75.11.13.28 (talk) at 20:23, 15 September 2008 (→‎See also: Anti-intellectualism is not directly contrary to academic elitism. Most people who are against academic elitism support learning and intellectual activity generally). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Academic elitism is a charge sometimes levied at academic institutions and academics more broadly; use of the term "ivory tower" often carries with it an implicit critique of academic elitism. "Academic elitism" is also related to the concept of "intellectual elitism".

Description

Academic elitism suggests that in highly competitive academic environments only those individuals who have engaged in scholarship are deemed to have anything worthwhile to say, or do. It suggests that individuals who have not engaged in such scholarship are cranks.

Academic elitism is also an ideological belief that only those who attended the most elite or prestigious universities (such as Ivy League schools or Oxbridge) are capable of obtaining wealth and power. Proponents of academic elitism justify this belief by claim that this is just a by-product of capitalism.

Causes

Academic elitist views and beliefs may come from a variety of sources.

See also

General
Elitism, Ivory Tower, model minority
Education
Ivy League, Little Ivies, Southern Ivies

External articles and references

Published articles
Websites