Graduation Year

2026

Document Type

Open Access Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Mathematics

Reader 1

Jemma Lorenat

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© 2026 Philo J Judson

Abstract

The interplay between political ideology and mathematics is a recurring theme throughout the history of the academic field. Mathematics has been used as a tool of empire, while mathematicians have been elevated by states as symbols of national genius for political prestige. Political ideologies have also shaped the field from within, both through the suppression of mathematical thought and the enforcement of mathematical authority. Since 2025, the Trump administration has launched large-scale political attacks on American institutions of higher education, which include lawsuits, discrimination investigations, and the removal of federal funding from certain institutions that don’t adhere to the administration’s demands. These actions are motivated by a movement to embed conservative political ideology in the curriculum, research, and culture of American universities. And while considerable journalistic attention has been given to disciplines like science and history, the effect on mathematics has been significantly unexamined. This thesis reports on the Trump Administration’s recent actions against mathematical academia and examines their implications through a framework of selected historical examples that document the historical relationship between political ideology and mathematics.

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