New Left Ideology: A Cross National Study.

N

20

College Students; Cross Cultural Studies; Factor Analysis; Political Attitudes; Political Issues; Political Socialization; Social Differences; Student Attitudes

This study was undertaken to broaden the scope of the components of the "New Left" Scale, first developed by Christie et al. at Columbia College (1969), by including students from a U.S. university not known for its activism and responses given by a sample of Japanese college students. In short, U. S. and Japanese students both agreed most that participatory democracy should be the basis of a new society and disagreed most that educational institutions should espouse political doctrines. Also, Japanese students combine trust in "most people" with distrust of government and political opposition, reflecting perhaps the greater political activism of the group; whereas, U. S. students agreed more with statements which indicated a liberal or even non-political trust. Finally, Japanese students agreed that extensive reforms perpetuate social evils and that militant confrontation is required, whereas the U. S. sample put great faith in legal social authority as a vehicle for change. In both countries, different factors are apparent suggesting that New Left ideology may be nation specific, i.e. take on different forms depending on national tradition. (Author/TA)

1971

ED050367