Becoming Right: How Campuses Shape Young Conservatives

by Amy J. Binder, Kate Wood

How divergent campus cultures affect conservative college students

Conservative pundits allege that the pervasive liberalism of America's colleges and universities has detrimental effects on undergraduates, most particularly right-leaning ones. Yet not enough attention has actually been paid to young conservatives to test these claims--until now. In Becoming Right, Amy Binder and Kate Wood carefully explore who conservative students are, and how their beliefs and political activism relate to their university experiences.

Rich in interviews and insight, Becoming Right illustrates that the diverse conservative movement evolving among today's college students holds important implications for the direction of American politics.

Genres: Sociology, Politics, Nonfiction

424 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Amy J. Binder is Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Southern California.

Reviews

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but could get the relevant info from an article-length summary. My summary: where you attend university/college shapes how students practice their conservative political beliefs. At a western flagship (big campus, big classes, party school) politically active conservative students go for the provocative and flashy (more like Fox News). At an eastern elite (extremely hard to get into, most students live on campus, small classes where they meet profs), the equivalent students focus on 'civilized discourse'.

[Mckinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting. Given the blurb, I thought that there's be more to this book. Basically the authors look at two institutions (a state university in the west and a private elite college in New England). About all that can be said is that the politics play out differently in the two places. Although it appears to look like an academic research, the book is lacks meaningful analysis.
Disappointing.

[Jazz]

I did not read this book nor would I want to. My review is based on bookTV with one of the co-authors. Here is a clip from that program.
http://youtu.be/6iL1YwjZNY4 Amy Binder on BookTV.
There's not much to say other than the research method was terrible. The highlights of the full program were; conservatives spend millions annually to recruit college students into their political ideologies, the lame language used to describe groups whom are not conservative, (basically everyone else) Ie "diversity thugs" and "the angry PCers" who protest with bullhorns. To which she claims young conservatives are harassed and bullied to which is quickly glosses over with little to no evidence of matter. Btw her research is only based on two campuses. Also calling conservative demonstrations "political theatre" exchanging peaceful political debate...Okay, dismissing the vast American history of peaceful protests with actual real issues that shape politics is completely ignorant and disrespectful. Making "mock rallies" such as " catch an illegal alien day" with a smile, and foaming at the mouth when saying "the liberal orthodoxy establishment..." Does nothing but name call to the authors baseless research. She was able to name the right wingers approach calling it "provocative style" which I interpreted as "stfu I'm right your wrong nana nana na na" style.
I must stress this is only my second or third review so maybe I'm just cranky and I'm not providing any resourceful input.
I was able to agree with her on a couple issues. Campuses should be fun and safe but at the same time developing a better sense of self for students in the process. To gain access to knowledge that benefits society as a whole. All that sounds great but I find no other of use of this book other than a doorstop or on the humor shelf. Oh yeah almost forgot the author also curbs an audience members question to describe what conservative should be. Smh.

[Monty Python · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am annoyed by the fact that the authors went so far to "anonymize" their data that they redacted the names of universities where high-profile events with nationwide news coverage took place. As if it is impossible to search the internet for "Affirmative Action Bake Sale" and not be presented with a slew of results not only naming the universities, but also all of the key players involved. It is telling, however, that the authors point out the reason for this in the opening pages of the book-- if the locations were not anonymized, the publication of this book would be sanctioned.

You'll have to use your imagination and guess if when they refer to "Western Flagship" or "Eastern Elite" university, they're really talking about UCLA, Texas A&M, Princeton or Yale.

I can't say this is filling me with hope for the rest of the book.

[Hannah Close]

Kate wrote this!!

[Laura Petto · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was such a disappointment. Bad methodology, all the same interviewees, too small of a study, dismissive of libertarianism... would not recommend