Jacobin Radio Dig: Liberal Hegemon w/ Aziz Rana
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Apr 20, 2025 Aziz Rana, a Professor of Law at Boston College and author, delves into the intricate relationship between American history and its constitutional framework. He discusses how hyper-nationalism from World War I and the Cold War shaped liberalism and anti-communism. Rana critiques the Supreme Court's role in protecting civil liberties and explores the psychological impact of McCarthyism. He also contrasts FDR's dynamic leadership with Obama's, while critically examining the legacies of racial and immigration policies within the ongoing struggle for rights in America.
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Radical vs. Progressive Constitutional Views
- Radicals viewed the Declaration as revolutionary but the Constitution as reasserting class hierarchy.
- Socialist and progressive critiques diverged on whether to formally change the Constitution or work within it.
WWI Solidified Reactionary Constitutionalism
- World War I enabled business elites to defend the Constitution as it is, backing military preparedness.
- The era saw national mobilization around constitutional support tied to nationalism and xenophobia.
Postwar Repression and Black Internationalism
- Post-WWI repression cracked down on left and immigrant radicals as threats to social order.
- Intense white violence led to a black base for the Communist Party and internationalism in black politics.
