'''Academic elitism''' is a charge sometimes levied at [[academic institution]]s and academic more broadly; use of the term "[[ivory tower]]" often carries with it an implicit critique of academic elitism. "Academic elitism" is also related to the concept of "intellectual elitism".
== Description ==
''Academic elitism'' suggests that in highly competitive academic environments only those individuals who have engaged in [[scholarly method|scholarship]] are deemed to have anything worthwhile to say, or do. It suggests that individuals who have not engaged in such scholarship are [[Crank (person)|cranks]].
''Academic elitism'' is also an ideological belief that only those who attended the most elite or prestigious universities (such as [[Ivy League]] schools) are capable of obtaining wealth and power. Proponents of ''academic elitism'' justify this belief by claim that this is just a by-product of [[capitalism]].
==Expression==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=December 2007}}
Academic elitism will often be expressed within communities through declarations of "[[Alterity|Otherness]]", that is, non-academics will be said to be 'not as good as us'.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Non-academics may be represented as a danger to quality in research, and their perceived lower standard of education can lead to them being considered as members of a lower social grouping.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
The tendency towards academic elitism is most pronounced in highly competitive and highly regarded research environments. The [[peer review]] of academia process is occasionally cited {{Fact|date=April 2007}} as suppressing dissent against “[[mainstream]]” theories (part of an overall system of ''[[suppression of dissent|suppression of intellectual dissent]]''). Some [[Science and technology studies|sociologists of science]] argue that peer review makes the ability to publish susceptible to control by [[elite]]s and to personal jealousy.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Reviewers tend to be especially critical of [[conclusion]]s that contradict their own [[view]]s, and lenient towards those that accord with them.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} At the same time, elite scientists are more likely than less established ones to be sought out as referees, particularly by high-prestige journals or [[publisher]]s.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} As a result, it has been argued, ideas that harmonize with the elite's are more likely to see print and to appear in premier journals than are iconoclastic or revolutionary ones, which accords with [[Thomas Kuhn]]'s well-known observations regarding scientific revolutions.{{Fact|date=December 2007}}
The tendency towards academic elitism is noticeable in some [[education system]]s (particularly in developed countries).{{Fact|date=December 2007}} More attention and resources are afforded to students who are deemed most intelligent at an early age {{Fact|date=August 2007}}. This inequality tends to further separate the elite from the remainder of society. [[Streaming (education)|Streaming]] systems include branded institutions, gifted classes, and other elite student groups. Countries with extensive private school systems also exemplify this trend.
==Causes==
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Academic elitist views and beliefs may come from a variety of sources.
==See also==
;General:[[Elitism]], [[Ivory Tower]],
;Contrary views:[[Anti-intellectualism]], [[Expert]]
;Education:[[Ivy League]], [[Little Ivies]], [[Southern Ivies]]
==External articles and references==
;Published articles
* Adams, Mike S., "''Welcome to the Ivory Tower of Babel: Confessions of a Conservative College Professor''". Harbor House, 2004, ISBN 1-891799-17-7
* Bair, Jeffrey H.,and Myron Boor, "''The Academic Elite in Law: Linkages Among Top-Ranked Law Schools''". Psychological Reports 68: 891-94, 1991.
* Bair, Jeffrey H., "''[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0254/is_2_62/ai_100202314 The Hiring practices in finance education: linkages among top-ranked graduate programs - The University]''". American Journal of Economics and Sociology, April, 2003.
* Best, Gerard A., "''[http://www.meppublishers.com/online/caribbean-beat/current_issue/article.php?id=cb76-2-36 Breaking down the Ivory tower]''". Caribbean Beat, Issue No. 76, November/December 2005.
* Bramble, Tom, "''[http://www.anu.edu.au/polsci/courses/ape/uniclass.htm Class and power in the ivory tower]''". Australian Universities Review (unpublished), University of Queensland.
* Cornwell, Reid, "''[http://tcfir.org/opinion/The_Invisible_University.doc The Invisible University or Academic Elitism]''". (.doc)
* Hylden, Jordan L., and John H. Jernigan, "''[http://www.hpronline.org/news/2003/06/08/Cover/Leaning.Ivory.Tower-437662.shtml Leaning Ivory Tower]; The most troubling bias among academics is not political but religious''". Havard Political Review, 6/8/03.
* Keally, Charles T., "''[http://www.t-net.ne.jp/~keally/Reports/SIR2006/sir2006.html Academic Elitists and Elite Academics: An Essay]''". Sophia International Review no. 28, 2006.
* Lewis, Lionel, "''[http://www.aaup.org/publications/Academe/2005/05jf/05jflewi.htm The Academic Elite Goes to Washington, and to War]; Critics of the academy have lambasted faculty doves. History shows that academia has roosted a flock of hawks''". American Association of University Professors.
* Lin, Xi, "''[http://archives.thedaily.washington.edu/1998/020298/elites.20298.html The academic elite]; Cynicism and disillusionment are protocol for UW elites''". The Daily of the University of Washington, 1998.
* Newitz, Annalee, "''[http://www.salon.com/it/career/1998/11/06career.html Ivory Tower]| Out of academia''". Salon.com, 2000.
* [[Ellen W. Schrecker|Schrecker, Ellen W.]], "''No Ivory Tower : McCarthyism and the Universities''". 1986. ISBN 0-19-503557-7
* Sprain, Leah, "''[http://www.com.washington.edu/Program/publicscholarship/ps_sprain.pdf Sending Signals from the Ivory Tower]: Barriers to Connecting Academic Research to the Public''". ([[PDF]])
;Websites
* [http://www.the-ivory-tower.com The Authority On Ivory Towers and Elitism]
* [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8606135694351174596&q=mslaw+Elitism&total=3&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0 A video on Elitism in College Admissions produced by the The Massachusetts School of Law]
[[Category:Academia|Elitism]]
[[Category:Education issues]]
[[pt:Elitismo acadêmico]]
[[sv:Elfenbenstorn]]