Deconstructing History

One good reason to read this book is that it directly addresses the current right-wing attack on university attempts to modernize their course offerings. As the New York Times reported on November 22, 1988, that attack is spearheaded by complaints that “women and members of minority groups had contaminated . . . objectivity on decisions about curriculum, promotions and academic discourse.” To combat this spreading disease, Stephen M. Balch, president and executive director of the National Association of Scholars, called for setting up “new educational centers” designed to compete with what the Times called “ideological programs.” This was necessary because, as the Times put it, conservatives believe the left has a political agenda “to undermine Western institutions.”

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