The humanities in crisis: An audit of taxpayer-funded ARC grants

Australian universities are in a state of crisis. They are failing students in regards to freedom of speech and academic freedom, both of which are under threat. In the humanities, the leitmotifs of class, race and gender have replaced the essential core subjects which explain the political, intellectual, social and material basis of the history of Western Civilisation. The concepts that should be transmitted to university students, such as respect for the individual, equality of men and women under the law, the abolition of slavery, freedom of speech and religious toleration, are simply not part of the narrative and are not being taught.

This report is an examination of the taxpayer-funded Australian Research Council (ARC) humanities grants which have been awarded to Australian universities since 2002. The results provide further evidence that universities are well and truly wedded to identity politics to the detriment of the teaching of Western Civilisation.

This piece of research is the fourth in a series of papers which systematically review what is being taught and researched in the humanities in Australian universities.

According to the ARC, the purpose of the organisation is ‘to grow knowledge and innovation for the benefit of the Australian community’ and that ‘the outcomes of ARC-funded research deliver cultural, economic, social and environmental benefits to all Australians.’ This audit reveals that there is an enormous disconnect between the stated aims of the ARC and the predominance of identity politics in the humanities research proposals which have received government funding since 2002.

• Between 2002 and 2019, the ARC National Competitive Grants Program has administered a total of $1.34 billion in funding to humanities research projects.
• Between 2002 and 2019, the ARC National Competitive Grants program has administered funding to 616 Historical Studies research projects.
• The total amount of funding for 616 Historical Studies research projects between 2002 and 2019 is $192 million.

The three most common themes found in 616 Historical Studies research projects are as follows:

1. Identity Politics (class, race and gender) (112)
2. Indigenous History and Studies (99)
3. War and Conflict (82)

The three least common themes found in 616 Historical Studies research projects are as follows:

4. Capitalism (1)
5. Rule of Law (3)
6. Free Speech (1)