Talking Politics: How Student-Faculty Dynamics Shape Political Discourse

• In Event: Impact of power and politics in higher education

Abstract

As political discourse intensifies across the U.S., faculty members have been identified as key influencers in shaping political conversations. The political typology of faculty members has become a topic of intense research and debate; yet, few studies have examined students’ perceptions of their faculty’s approach to political discussions and the student-faculty dynamics that influence the political discourse. This research examines student-faculty interactions and highlights classroom dynamics related to political conversations. The findings indicate that the critical factor in a professor's influence is not their political stance, but rather their pedagogical approach in managing political discourse, and that fostering a multifaceted campus climate is not a matter of achieving ideological balance but of cultivating a sound pedagogical method.

Authors

• Jiaqi Hu, University of Massachusetts Amherst

• Musbah Shaheen, University of Massachusetts - Amherst