Ideas of racial hygiene resurface in elite circles, driven by tech moguls

The recent death of Cambridge academic Jason Arday has cast a shadow over the start of the academic year, prompting a deep re-examination of how society perceives intelligence and genetic inheritance. Arday, the youngest Black professor at Cambridge, died in early August following a storm of accusations on social media and in the press regarding plagiarism and fabricated elements of his CV. His death, presumed to be a suicide, has left many within and outside the university searching for answers.

The ensuing debate has largely polarized between two camps. The right points to identity politics and affirmative action, suggesting that preferential treatment for minorities played a role. Conversely, the left attributes the tragedy to racism and a media environment that rewards sensationalism and public shaming. However, columnist Gina Gustavsson argues that these explanations miss a crucial dimension of the issue.

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The case also brings up the question of how we view intelligence in general – and genetic inheritance.

Gustavsson contends that the Arday case is not solely about race or preferential treatment. It also forces a confrontation with prevailing ideas about intelligence and the role of genetics. Arday, who identified as Black and autistic, reportedly claimed to have overcome significant intellectual disabilities in his childhood. This narrative challenges the notion that our destiny is predetermined by our inherited traits, particularly measurable by IQ tests. This perspective, Gustavsson notes, finds resonance among some tech billionaires in Silicon Valley who view themselves as a superior cognitive elite, evolutionarily positioned for dominance.

The author suggests that this focus on genetic determinism has become increasingly important for the modern right, particularly within the tech industry. The timing of the accusations against Arday, amplified during a quiet news period, and the alleged connections to tech moguls, underscore this point for Gustavsson. The narrative of a genetically superior class, capable of shaping the future, appears to be gaining traction in influential circles.

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This genetic determinism has become increasingly important for the new right today, not least in Silicon Valley.