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> The notion that conservatives would indeed be biased against an independent, non-statist academia, simply because they are -as is often implied- biased against knowlege itself, is not convincing.

This is a complete straw man. Nobody is saying conservatives would be biased against 'knowledge itself'.

What is being suggested is that they would be biased against social psychological research with the potential to change ideas about power relations away from supporting the status quo.

Furthermore, if as you say, conservatives are supportive of this research being done, but just object to 'statist' academia, you will easily be able to prove that by pointing us to the independent institutions they have funded.