Death of woke — the left must reclaim universalism to defeat the far right
What is (or was, depending on your point of view), ‘woke’? Where did it come from, where did it go — and why, after its ignominious defeat, does the left seem so reluctant to let it go? We urgently need a left cleansed of woke. Time is running out.
The term 'woke' emerged from African American culture as a means of being vigilant against racism and recognizing structural inequalities. It gained traction within progressive politics but was later appropriated by the right as an insult. Wokeness aimed to identify and rectify injustices faced by marginalized groups, emphasizing structural discrimination and the persistence of inequality even in the absence of explicit bigotry.
However, over time, the movement deviated from the universalistic principles of the civil rights movement. It began to concentrate on racism more than other forms of discrimination and shifted from transcending identity to organizing around it. This departure from universalism coincided with the rise of post-structuralist thought, which argued that institutions cannot be neutral.
The problem arose when wokeness diverged from the inclusive vision of civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela. Instead of promoting integration and a society where race becomes less significant, the discourse moved towards emphasizing identity politics. This ideological shift left progressives feeling alienated from the right-wing populists who hijacked the term 'woke' for their own political gain.
The consequences of embracing woke ideology were far-reaching and politically detrimental. Progressive left-leaning groups became increasingly intolerant and fixated on policing language, to the point of labeling minor infractions as "cancel culture." This puritanical mindset alienated potential supporters and made it difficult for economic policies to appeal across racial, regional, and class lines.
Despite the decline of woke after 2023, some left-wing politicians still cling to its influence. This reluctance to forgo its tenets hinders the left's ability to present a united front against the far right. The progressive puritanism fostered by wokeness has created a divisive political landscape, making it challenging for the left to advocate for universalist economic policies that could unite people across various backgrounds.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
