> I strongly dislike the oversimplified left/right dichotomy. If your political views strictly adhere to either side, it suggests a lack of independent thought. I have very little interest in engaging with someone who can't appreciate alternative perspectives.

Agreed, but irrelevant to the paper, because they are studying the differences between two groups with opposing positions within the context of social justice.

Your point is relevant to one-on-one discussions only, because you qualify it with "independent" thought. By definition alone, a group does not have independent thought.