SODOM & GOMORRAH: Innovation and education are two topics that usually inspire fear and dread in the far right, yet these developments show some signs of positive change.
Peter Klein at the Mises blog discusses some new innovations in online education that are taking place. In particular, Klein points out how organizations like the University of Phoenix have empowered people to advance and how models such as the Mises Academy have challenged the traditional university structure.
Some other organizations have also dedicated significant resources to bringing quality instructional courses online at either a low or free price. For instance, Udacity has been set up to provide free computer science courses to anyone who wants to learn programming. Udacity’s founders say that anyone and everyone should have access to advanced programming courses if they have the desire to learn.
Modern tools are often distrusted by people like me. The far right tends to view such things as inherently biased or dangerous because most of the time they’re employed toward evil ends. I would contend, however, that technology in and of itself is fundamentally neutral. Like a hammer, a vehicle, or anything else, the internet can be used for good or for ill.
While I suspect that many of the innovations in online education are going to be used for progressive ends – since almost everything is used for progressive ends because almost everyone is a progressive these days – I feel that the platforms and tools that are being developed can be used to empower contrarians to create their own innovations in online education. What I mean is, the far right can adapt to this new space and create structures that will educate others.
Do you see the potential for a far-right Udacity to provide free or low-cost education in the spirit of reactionary ideas?