Friday, August 27, 2004
US Studies: Bullying and Self Interest
A Degree in Bullying and Self-interest? No Thanks
The Decline of American Studies reveals our Increasing Dislike of the US
by Polly Toynbee
Published on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 by The Guardian/ United Kingdom
The Decline of American Studies reveals our Increasing Dislike of the US
by Polly Toynbee
Published on Wednesday, August 25, 2004 by The Guardian/ United Kingdom
Turn to the Guardian's university clearing pages and there are many vacancies for a subject that was once hugely popular. Until recently, American studies departments sprang up everywhere. But no longer. Now 28 universities still have American studies places unfilled, and they include many at well-regarded institutions — Essex, Keele, Kent and Swansea among them. Due to lack of demand, five universities have closed American studies departments while others have cut staff. Keele, traditionally the top-ranking American studies department, with a maximum, grade five ranking for research for the past few years, has had to fire half its staff. Professor Ian Bell at Keele says: "Students don't want to be branded by doing American studies. They still want to do American modules as part of English or history but, after Bush, they shy away from being labelled as pro-American — not after the obscenity of Iraq." ...
