Word: consensus
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...works, he observes, have a transient life of their own-like the French bureaucracy, which America's administrative system more and more resembles. Yet institutions are less significant, ultimately, than the system of agreed-upon ideas to which the power wielders must appeal. Growing doubt about the philosophical consensus behind American democracy, says Berle, is "the fundamental problem in America today...
Dunlop's administrative record suggests he would be an activist Dean, not a passive consensus-builder. But his record as a mediator suggests his activism may be cautious and stealthy. In particular, the Dean of the Faculty has to avoid intiatives that would impair the confidence the Faculty has in him. Dunlop no doubt realizes this. He realizes, too, his responsibility to a larger public...
...alumni. There are also marginal groups like teaching fellows .... Any one of these groups can be disruptive. If the alumni go around raising hell, they can make life difficult. So could the other groups. In order to adapt to change, there must be a degree of accommodation. Accommodation-not consensus-is the word I want...
...rarely votes," he explained. "We operate on the Harvard Gentleman system which finds voting rather vulgar. We only act if there is a consensus- which one or two members of considerable seniority often prevent. Having students on the committee would change all that. The majority of thinking Senior Common Room members want change: I've found the lack of students a positive embarrassment...
This kind of reasoning suggests that it is at least highly probable that some kinds of research in the social sciences are biased in favor of certain value assumptions. Such bias naturally has political effects, although these might not be apparent until a new perspective challenges the general consensus in the society's frame of reference...