The Identity Trap and the Origins of Identity Politics

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Yasha Malk discusses his book 'The Identity Trap' and explores the origins and influences of the ideology of identity politics. The chapter delves into the history of this ideology from its roots in post-modernism to critical race theory, highlighting its impact on society and the challenges in defining concepts like wokeness and critical race theory.

Sam Harris speaks with Yascha Mounk about identity politics. They discuss Yascha’s concept of the “identity synthesis,” skepticism about “cancel culture,” racial segregation in schools, the ideological change on college campuses, Michel Foucault and postmodernism, the rejection of universalism, Derrick Bell, Kimberlé Crenshaw, the “permanence of racism,” the indoctrination of children, intersectionality, white privilege, institutional racism, equity vs equality, racial preferences during the Covid pandemic, the asymmetric advantage of authoritarianism, class and elitism, affirmative action, media coverage of crime and violence, social media and the business model of mainstream journalism, and other topics.

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