Utilising the humanities in the face of the far-right

With supports for the arts at an all time low we explore the role social sciences play in improving society

A key talking point in the just-gone British election was the proposed abolition of so-called ‘Mickey Mouse degrees’, with ex-education secretary Gillian Keegan calling for a ‘crackdown’ on these degrees. These are supposed superfluous studies like fine art, English literature, sociology or media that hold allegedly no monetary potential and therefore should be scrapped. Why have right-wing commentators adopted such a money-orientated view of education? This proposed shift in education policy hinders the younger generation from having the tools to engage in politics. Indeed, if these attitudes continue we run the risk of having a generation with little idea of how to think critically, hold ethical insight and understand the intricacies of our institutions. The rise of British anti-intellectualism is a warning sign of something much darker. We need young working-class people who are educated in the social sciences to contextualise the rise of fascism and curb the potential dangers of money-hungry tech. In an age where tech innovation is synonymous with mega-money, it is easy to undermine the utility and profitability of arts. However, doing so is dangerous: the study of humanities gives man a moral conscience when science expands into dangerous territory. Without those well versed in social sciences there is no one to argue the case against nuclear weapons, the growth of the weapons industry or AI. We need social science to add accountability to industries fuelled by greed and expansion. Indeed, if our sociological understanding doesn’t progress at the same rate as technology, technological advancement will outpace our ability to utilise it for good.

There are existing examples of this we can look to. Social media’s growth has created a dark underbelly of the internet where hatred and exploitation linger, suggesting a need to continually evolve to keep up. For instance, the 2019 Voyeurism Act made ‘upskirting’ (taking a photo up a person's skirt) a specific offence. Crimes like these are a direct consequence of the growth of social media and technology. Without people being aware of these social trends and banging the drum for change, tech giants will continue to grow exponentially without any regard for their creations' social consequences. The unchecked growth of technology does not only have dire social consequences, but physical ones for some of the world's most vulnerable. Seeking the largest profit, tech companies exploit workers in abhorrent conditions to grow their empires. Electric vehicles are hailed as a marker of progress but the reality behind their production is dark. A vital component of the batteries used in said cars is cobalt. 4/5s of the world's cobalt is buried under the Democratic Republic of Congo, and this is being exploited. Indeed, it is estimated that at least 25,000 children are working in cobalt mines in Congo. This extreme exploitation is modern-day colonialism and evidence of corporations abandoning social responsibility in the name of profit. Those of us in the imperial core need analytical frameworks to hold perpetrators to account. To abandon the intellectual pursuits of sociology, history and politics is to hand over our future to companies, who are set on exploiting our planet and its people. 

We have seen how social science can be a tool to battle money-hungry monopolies, but how does this way of thinking play out in our shiny, post-election political landscape? As the British far-right undoubtedly rises (evidenced by Reform UK’s 5 seats in the recent election) we see premonitions of tactics used before. Anti-intellectualism is a highlight in many far-right movements. The far-right has a pattern of announcing nuance as dangerous, valuing loyalty to a regime over honest history. Whether it is Richard Tice (Deputy Leader of Reform UK) calling sociology - a subject which delves into the analysis of carceral systems, colonialism, fascism and more - a ‘Mickey Mouse degree’ or Donald Trump simply calling experts all foreign policy experts ‘terrible’ , it is clear the far-right is at odds with humanities. Ex-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak argued that these ‘Mickey Mouse’ degrees are worthy of being axed as they do not  ‘offer the prospect of a decent job at the end of it.’ This view of education is reductive. People should be able to pursue knowledge for intellectual development or even pleasure. Our life is enriched by the existence of art, and debate and the absence of this would leave us with a world with no diversity of thought, or intellectual stimulation. A society without humanities has no satirists to hold the powerful to account, nor any artworks to capture a prominent social moment. The study of the humanities intimidates the right wing for a reason, it undermines a worldview based on ignorance. 

So when you are filling out your UCAS form don’t let your Reform voting uncle convince you that the degree in Politics and IR won’t get you anywhere. In a world full to the brim of fake news, far-right politicians who rely on ignorance and potentially dangerous technologies, we need people who are passionate and articulate about the social mechanics of our world. When media outlets brand your favourite literature, art or music into the result of ‘Mickey Mouse’ degree - stand tall knowing you are building the arsenal to fight against big companies and politicians who would rather you be ignorant of the realities of the world.   

Article by Megan Thomas