So far, I have been lucky enough to talk to individuals attending university who follow political ideologies of both the left and the right. It has been fantastic to be able to talk to them about their contrasting experiences at university and how this governs their political thought. Having enquired about both socialists and conservatives I was curious to understand the viewpoint of those who fall into neither of those categories. Those who would class themselves as political centrists. Whilst I acknowledge that there are plenty more political philosophies besides the three I have mentioned, I feel that this is the best and most efficient easy to understand the viewpoint of students across the political spectrum.
Now in previous articles I have obtained my information through interviewing students who align with the ideology I have been inquiring about. However, for this article there is only one person I need. Myself! I am a fully paid up member of the political centrist community and have found that, at least in universities, we are quite a rare breed.
In terms of politics, being a centrist can be quite isolating. Being a socialist at university is likely to be the norm while the conservatives on campus are likely to be the outsiders keen to establish themselves as the alternative. So for a centrist, it often feels like the negative sides of both opposing ideologies are just amalgamated into one. Or at least that’s how many seem to perceive us.
Another element to how students have approached my political stance has been both fascinating and infuriating. When I state that I may lean further right on certain issues and further left on other issues, students who don’t sign up to this ideology seem to become incensed. They see it as an alien concept to not lean left or right on pretty much every issue at hand. I do feel at times therefore, that centrist students will be treated with ignorance as they are characterised as not a true political thinker or simply someone who continually sits on the fence.
To summarise, being a centrist at university can be rather frustrating. You have no views that will ever mean you are hated by the majority like certain other individuals may experience, but you are often treated with indifference by many who just don’t seem to understand your lack of a more tribal viewpoint. However, the ability to maintain a certain amount of difference from the crowd can sometimes feel quite liberating. Whilst everyone else subscribes to the more conventional views a centrist is able to maintain a certain degree of freedom in their thought which can be both liberating and enjoyable. And anyway, it’s only politics!