What Liberals Get Wrong about the Right with Corey Robin
Nov 22, 2023
auto_awesome
The guest on this podcast is Corey Robin, a Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College. They discuss the importance of understanding the right, dispelling misconceptions about them, and exploring the historical context of the right-wing movement. They also touch on topics such as the impact of election interference, analyzing the political views of Clarence Thomas, and signs of change in politics beyond the traditional red and blue divide.
Understanding the unique perspective of political figures like Clarence Thomas can reveal the complexity behind their seemingly simple caricatures.
The right-wing movement has a rich intellectual foundation and well-thought-out principles that should not be dismissed as irrational or lacking coherence.
Institutionalizing change through new and protected systems is crucial for lasting progress in movements for equality.
Deep dives
Clarence Thomas and the Role of Reactionary Thinking
Clarence Thomas, a Supreme Court Justice, is often caricatured as thoughtless and lazy. However, a deeper analysis reveals that he has a unique perspective rooted in his background as a former black nationalist on the left. Thomas holds a pessimistic view on race, believing that black people will never receive a fair shake from white America and that white racism is incurable. He opposes the idea of collective black power through voting and instead emphasizes the importance of building economic wealth within black communities, particularly among black men. This perspective is influenced by his belief in racial pessimism and his vision of black patriarchy as a means of black survival.
Understanding the Right's Intellectuals and Movements
The right-wing movement, often misunderstood, has a rich intellectual foundation and well-thought-out principles. It is a mistake to dismiss the right as irrational or lacking a coherent ideology. The right has historically been a counter movement against movements for freedom and equality, defending the power and privilege of a select few. However, their strategies and arguments have evolved over time, adapting to changing political landscapes. Right-wing thinkers, like Edmund Burke, responded to the French Revolution by devising novel ideas and creating a mass movement for privilege. It is crucial for the left to understand the right's perspectives and strategies in order to effectively counter them.
Building Institutional Change for Progress
In order to create lasting progress, movements for equality must focus on institutionalizing change. Merely appealing to morality or virtue is not enough. Historical examples, such as the destruction of slavery in the United States, demonstrate the importance of creating new institutions that benefit from the transformation and are difficult to undo. This requires strategic vision and the ability to appeal to the self-interest of those who hold power. It is essential to institutionalize reforms and protect them through legislation to ensure long-lasting change.
The Modern Right's Weakest Stage
The modern right-wing movement is currently at its weakest stage. Despite its historical control over the political discourse, the right has seen a diminishing amount of popular support in recent years. The reliance on constitutional apparatuses and the inability to translate electoral returns into significant legislative action has contributed to its weakened state. Additionally, the Republican Party heavily depends on counter-majoritarian state institutions, such as the Electoral College and the Supreme Court, to maintain its power. The left has an opportunity to capitalize on the right's vulnerabilities, but it needs to develop a clear political project and a unifying message that can attract a broad majority.
Breaking the Logjam
To break the logjam and make substantial progress, the left needs to go beyond incremental change and embrace a transformative agenda. It must learn from both the failures and successes of previous popular movements in history. Building a broad majority that includes diverse demographics, such as younger voters and workers, in addition to challenging the current red-blue political dichotomy, is crucial. The teacher strikes in red states and Bernie Sanders' popularity among younger, immigrant workers in Nevada demonstrate the potential for a more inclusive and powerful left movement. However, time is of the essence, given the urgency of climate change. The left must find ways to overcome its timidity, embrace forward-thinking ideas, and build a movement that can bring about the necessary changes.
It's easy to caricature those on the political far right as outlandish, cartoonish, and bizarre, and easier still to dismiss their agendas as irrational or uninformed. This, however, can be a tremendous mistake. Assessing political rivals requires not just learning the history of their influences and principles, but also remembering that they are real people. In this episode, Adam speaks with Corey Robin, Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College, to learn the history of where the far right movement emerged from, and what we can learn from evaluating them honestly. Find Corey's books at factuallypod.com/books
About Headgum: Headgum is an LA & NY-based podcast network creating premium podcasts with the funniest, most engaging voices in comedy to achieve one goal: Making our audience and ourselves laugh. Listen to our shows at https://www.headgum.com.
