Publishing Prejudices Theodore Dalrymple

Under Stalinist educational policy, selection for universities was by social origin and political reliability. Children of manual workers were chosen over those of bourgeois backgrounds, irrespective of their abilities or intellectual attainments. For Stalin, the purpose or function of education was social engineering and resultant political conformism, not induction into or extension of higher learning.

With this in mind, one reads the following with a shudder: Socio-economic representation is currently a major focus for PRH. & This year, the publisher has opened its internships only to people from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

The article quotes the chief executive of PRH, a true Homo sovieticus. He has mastered langue de bois with a perfection that excites my admiration, for try as I might, I have never been able to employ this language:

As well as delivering out inclusion strategy, we also look beyond our company to contribute to wider change. This year we re-affirmed our commitment to working with others for the betterment of the entire industry by signing up to the Publishers Association s new inclusivity action plan. Next, we will explore barriers to progression and retention that colleagues from underrepresented groups face, so colleagues from all backgrounds are supported to thrive. We will also be working to publish more inclusively and publish writers from backgrounds underrepresented on the nation s bookshelves.

via lawliberty.org

I’m running out of appropriate expressions of dismay.