Abbott a scapegoat for Western civilisation course being canned at ANU

Former prime minister Tony Abbott yesterday. Picture: AAP

The proposed Ramsay Foundation-sponsored university course on Western civilisation is becoming a victim of precisely what it was hoped to combat: politically and ideologically inspired antagonism towards the perceived evils of Western society.

Campus objections to the idea of a privately funded liberal arts degree at the Australian National University have been around since the discussions were made public in December and haven’t suddenly appeared in reaction to Tony ­Abbott’s fervent endorsement of Western civilisation.

Students have been voicing public opposition, academics have been “quietly questioning” the proposal, petitions have been signed to keep “Ramsay out” and the academic’s union has threatened “anger, protest and division”. But, again, the conservative, uncompromising former Liberal prime minister provides a convenient scapegoat for the ANU’s decision last week — after months of negotiations and mutual agreement — to walk away from millions in funding for study in classic liberal arts.

That Abbott, a director of the Ramsay Centre, and John ­Howard, its chairman, are the ­voices defending the proposal and taking issue with the ANU makes it a perfect political out for the ANU and those opposing such a degree, such as Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who yesterday described Abbott as the “cheer leader”.

The idea of Western civilisation weighing on campus decisions became limited to the wrongs of British ­colonialism, ­ignoring the rights of British ­society, and the Greek and Roman contributions to civilisation. ­Incoming history department head Frank Bongiorno blames ­Abbott’s “aggressive” commentary, in late April, for the ANU’s decision and describes the National Tertiary Education Union’s intervention as being “late” and without influence. Bongiorno points to a Quadrant article by Abbott published late in April — in which he says the new course would be “in favour” of Western civilisation — as having a “devastating” effect on the decision.

Yet in March — almost two months before Abbott’s article — there was “heightened concern” expressed publicly about the negotiations and ANU academics ­reportedly questioned the whole idea because “no other centre at the ANU has that explicit ideological program”.

Debate intensified long before Abbott’s article that is now cited as the reason for pulling out.

As Simon Birmingham said yesterday, the academics’ union and students had run a “campaign of fear and negativity” about a ­proposed course that was going to ­employ 12 new academics and provide scholarships for 60 students.