New Books in Sociology

We Have Never Been Woke: A Conversation with Musa al-Gharbi

Apr 2, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Musa al-Gharbi, a sociologist and assistant professor at Stony Brook University, tackles the complexities of social capitalism and its impact on political leanings. He argues that the elite often undermine their own principles of equality, despite their good intentions. Al-Gharbi challenges simplified narratives around wokeness, critiques the disconnect between advocates and the communities they claim to represent, and reflects on how professions shape values and political divides in today's society.

45:37

Episode guests

Musa al-Gharbi

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Quick takeaways

Symbolic capitalism highlights how professionals influence political leanings through shared ideas, overshadowing traditional class distinctions in shaping identities.

Despite advocating for social justice, symbolic capitalists often fail to connect with marginalized communities, perpetuating the very inequalities they aim to dismantle.

Deep dives

Understanding Symbolic Capitalism

Symbolic capitalism refers to a social group that derives its value not from producing physical goods, but from manipulating symbols and ideas. This group, often comprised of professionals such as educators, consultants, and journalists, benefits from their social networks and knowledge rather than traditional economic production. Unlike a distinct class structure, symbolic capitalists often intersect across various societal strata, leading to shared political tendencies among people with different social backgrounds. Their influence on political landscapes is striking, as they display voting patterns that transcend traditional class boundaries, suggesting that professions matter more than income alone in shaping political identities.

Intro

2min

Challenging Narratives of Modern Advocacy

2min

Understanding Symbolic Capitalists in the Knowledge Economy

3min

The Political Divide: Professions and Their Impact on Values

3min

Reflections on Work and Wokeness

19min

Symbolic Capitalism and Social Justice Dilemmas

15min

Why does occupation reliably predict political leanings? What is social capitalism, and how does it span income classes? If social capitalists are sincerely committed to equality and “wokeness,” why do they simultaneously benefit from—and perpetuate—the very inequalities they denounce?

Join us as we dive into Musa al-Gharbi’s provocative new book, We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite (Princeton University Press, 2024). We explore al-Gharbi’s central argument: the disconnect between the stated values of the "symbolic capital elite" and the real-world consequences of their actions, despite their genuine intentions. Al-Gharbi draws parallels to past "great awakenings"—periods of profound cultural upheaval and shifting attitudes toward civil rights. We also examine whether defining "wokeness" is essential to his thesis, and al-Gharbi clarifies some of the most frequently misunderstood aspects of his work.

Musa al-Gharbi is a sociologist and assistant professor in the School of Communication and Journalism at Stony Brook University. A columnist for The Guardian, his writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and other major publications.

Madison’s Notes is the podcast of Princeton University’s James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions.

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