Susan Neiman, Director of the Einstein Forum and author of "Left Is Not Woke," dives into the complex nature of 'woke.' She explores its evolution from a call for social awareness to a divisive term. Neiman critiques how the movement simplifies identities into mere victimhood, arguing for a broader understanding of justice and solidarity. She also addresses the historical nuances of Enlightenment thought and its impact on modern ideologies, emphasizing the need for genuine connections beyond ideological divides.
The term 'woke' evolved from a call for social justice to a divisive label reflecting fractured movements based on identity politics.
The podcast discusses the tension between 'woke' ideology and traditional leftist values, highlighting the need for universal principles of justice.
Deep dives
The Evolution of 'Woke'
'Woke' originally emerged in 1938 when blues singer Lead Belly used it to raise awareness about injustice against the Scottsboro Boys, nine Black teenagers falsely accused of a crime. Its resurgence in 2017 coincided with the political climate fueled by the backlash against President Obama, especially in the context of racism and populist resentment. Initially embraced for its connotations of social consciousness and justice, by 2020, the perception of 'woke' began to sour, associating it more with dogmatism rather than its initial call for awareness. The word, once seen as empowering, shifted to a label that invoked division, signaling a complex transformation within societal movements.
Solidarity vs. Tribalism
A significant shift occurred around 2020, where a movement aimed at universal solidarity in the fight against police violence began fracturing into divisions based on identity and race. This change reflected a movement slipping from a universalist approach, which embraced connections across different demographics, to one that emphasized tribal affiliations. The danger of this shift lies in its potential to undermine genuine alliances, which have long been central to the left's principles. Replacing solidarity with tribalism could lead to deeper societal fractures and diminish collective action towards shared goals.
Identity and Essentialism
The criticism of 'woke' ideology extends to its tendency to essentialize individuals by reducing them to their marginalized identities rather than acknowledging their multifaceted selves. This focus on victimhood and the problematic framing of identities can be limiting, stripping agency from individuals by defining them solely in terms of oppression. The argument posits that personhood should be based on one's actions and choices rather than experiences of suffering, as emphasizing victimhood can deny the broader context of human complexity. This essentialist view risks ignoring the choices and contributions individuals make beyond their marginalized status.
Power, Justice, and the Enlightenment
The relationship between 'woke' ideology and traditional leftist values can be complicated, particularly through the lens of power dynamics influenced by thinkers like Foucault, who critiqued conventional notions of justice. While Foucault expanded the understanding of hidden power structures, his approach often leads to a nihilistic view that undermines the concept of justice altogether, reducing it to mere power struggles. Critically, the Enlightenment emerges as a counterpoint, offering universal principles independent of tribal identities, emphasizing reason and the pursuit of justice. Balancing the recognition of power with the commitment to justice is necessary to ensure that progress and humanity are not relegated to mere power plays.
Depending on who you are, you might understand “woke” to mean “concerned with fundamental human justice”. Alternatively, you might think its means obsessed with identity politics, tribal, angry, and inclined to cancel and censor.
Either way, you probably associate the term with the left. After all, “lefty” and “liberal” and the words most commonly paired with “woke”.
But what if that isn’t the case? What if it’s an oversimplification? What if woke isn’t left and left isn’t woke? Where does that leave the left? And where does it leave wokery?
Depending on who you are, you might understand “woke” to mean “concerned with fundamental human justice”. Alternatively, you might think its means obsessed with identity politics, tribal, angry, and inclined to cancel and censor.
Either way, you probably associate the term with the left. After all, “lefty” and “liberal” and the words most commonly paired with “woke”.
But what if that isn’t the case? What if it’s an oversimplification? What if woke isn’t left and left isn’t woke? Where does that leave the left? And where does it leave wokery?
Purchase a copy of Susan's book 'Left is not Woke' here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Left-Not-Woke-Susan-Neiman/dp/1509558306
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