Eric Voeten links to the abstract of a new study that tested whether civics class increased students' commitment to civil liberties:
More than 1000 students in 59 high school classrooms were randomly assigned to an enhanced civics curriculum designed to promote awareness and understanding of constitutional rights and civil liberties. The results show that students in the enhanced curriculum classes displayed significantly more knowledge in this domain than students in conventional civics classes. However, we find no corresponding change in the treatment group’s support for civil liberties, a finding that calls into question the hypothesis that knowledge and attitudes are causally connected.
Or maybe some core elements of authoritarianism and fear are deeply embedded in pre-rational feelings.
The Dish 