Professor Eric Kaufmann reveals why the progressive era that began in the 1960s is finally collapsing. This isn't just about "woke" culture - it's about the end of a 60-year ideological system that has shaped every major institution in the West.Key topics discussed:The "moral Big Bang" of the 1960s and how white guilt transformed American institutionsWhy affirmative action (1965-2025) and disparate impact doctrine are being dismantled after 60 yearsThe crucial distinction between "cultural socialism" and economic MarxismHow universities became ground zero for ideological captureCanada as a "woke theocracy" compared to the US and UKThe emerging battle between classical liberals and post-liberals on the rightProfessor Kaufmann's departure from Birkbeck after 20 years to found the Centre for Heterodox Social ScienceKaufmann traces the origins of today's culture wars back to the civil rights era, showing how ideas that emerged at Berkeley in the 1960s have now scaled up to dominate institutions. He provides historical context from Nixon's era through to Trump's executive orders, demonstrating that current political battles are actually about reversing policies that have been entrenched for over half a century.This conversation offers essential historical perspective on why Western societies are experiencing such dramatic political and cultural upheaval, and what might replace the progressive consensus.*Note: This conversation was recorded before Professor Kaufmann's October 2025 report "The Decline of Trans and Queer Identity among Young Americans" showing a dramatic drop in trans identification among youth. Read the full report: https://www.heterodoxcentre.com/resea...Eric Kaufmann (https://x.com/epkaufm) Professor of Politics, University of Buckingham Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute Author of extensive research on culture wars, populism, and political polarization
