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Musa al-Gharbi on Elite Wokeness, Islam, and Social Movements

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Oct 16, 2024

Guest

Musa al-Gharbi

Musa al-Gharbi, a sociologist and assistant professor at Stony Brook University, discusses the cultural contradictions of wokeness in his book, "We Have Never Been Woke." He delves into why elite activism ebbs and flows, touching on psychological factors and the unique identity of Black Muslims in America. Musa reflects on his journey from Catholicism to Islam and highlights contributions from Islamic scholars to social science. He also explores the complexities of Muslim immigration in Europe and the dynamics of social movements today.

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insights

INSIGHT

Wokeness Decline

"Wokeness" among elites seems to decline after peaking around 2021.
Elite overproduction and economic hardship fuel these "awakenings".

insights

INSIGHT

Awakening Dynamics

Two factors predict "awakenings": elite overproduction and aligned hardship for elites and non-elites.
These "awakenings" fizzle out due to unstable alliances and differing communication styles.

insights

INSIGHT

Alternative Awakening Theory

Social media and media landscape changes do not fully explain "awakenings".
Similar episodes occurred before these factors existed, suggesting other underlying causes.

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Wokeness: Cycles of Elite Activism

01:47 • 24min

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Exploring Black Muslim Identity in America

25:20 • 5min

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From Disillusionment to Faith

30:42 • 5min

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Contributions of Islamic Scholars to Social Science

35:53 • 3min

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Political Islam and Modernity: A Nuanced Exploration

39:03 • 8min

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Exploring Knowledge Economy Dynamics and Future Projects

46:46 • 2min

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#911

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We Have Never Been Woke

The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite

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In this book, Musa al-Gharbi argues that despite the rise of a new elite who identify as allies of progressive causes such as antiracism, feminism, and LGBTQ rights, social and economic inequalities have continued to grow. These symbolic capitalists, who work primarily with words, ideas, images, and data, genuinely believe in egalitarian principles but inadvertently contribute to and perpetuate the very inequalities they oppose. The book examines how their actions and narratives often provoke backlash against the social justice causes they champion and argues that challenging these self-serving narratives is crucial for addressing social and economic inequality effectively.

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In this book, Joseph Henrich explores how Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations developed their unique psychological profiles. He argues that changes in family structures, marriage, and religion, particularly influenced by the Roman Catholic Church, led to the emergence of WEIRD psychology. This psychology is characterized by individualism, self-obsession, control-orientation, nonconformity, and analytical thinking, which contrast with the more group-focused and shame-driven cultures of non-Western societies. Henrich uses research from anthropology, psychology, economics, and evolutionary biology to explain how these psychological differences contributed to the industrial revolution and the global expansion of Europe.

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The novel, set in 1327, follows Adso of Melk, a young Benedictine novice, and William of Baskerville, a Franciscan friar, as they investigate a series of murders at an abbey in northern Italy. The story is framed by a complex narrative structure and involves debates on theology, science, and politics. The abbey's labyrinthine library, which houses a forbidden book, is central to the mystery. As the investigation unfolds, William and Adso uncover a conspiracy related to the library and a hidden manuscript that could undermine religious and societal order.

#11481

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In 'Foucault's Pendulum', Umberto Eco tells the story of three friends, Jacobo Belbo, Casaubon, and Diotallevi, who work at a vanity press in Milan. They invent a fictional conspiracy theory called 'The Plan' as a game, but it soon spirals out of control when real conspiracy theorists begin to take their creation seriously. The novel explores themes of conspiracy theories, history, and secret societies, and it critiques the futility of such theories. The story is narrated by Casaubon, who reflects on the tragic consequences of their game and the blurring of reality and fiction. The novel is structured around the ten Sefiroth and is rich in esoteric references to Kabbalah, alchemy, and historical events.

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The Islamic Moses

How the Prophet Inspired Jews and Muslims to Flourish Together and Change the World

Mustafa Akyol

Mustafa Akyol's "The Islamic Moses" explores the profound influence of Moses on the Prophet Muhammad and the development of Islam. The book highlights the striking similarities between their lives and missions, emphasizing the shared values and historical connections between Judaism and Islam. Akyol argues that understanding this shared heritage is crucial for fostering peace and cooperation between the two faiths. He challenges common misconceptions and promotes a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between Judaism and Islam, emphasizing their shared Abrahamic roots and potential for peaceful coexistence. The book serves as a call for interfaith dialogue and understanding, particularly in light of contemporary conflicts.

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Musa al-Gharbi is a sociologist and assistant professor at Stony Brook University whose research explores how people think about, talk about, and produce shared knowledge about race, inequality, social movements, extremism, policing, and other social phenomena. His new book, We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite, examines the rise and fall of wokeness among America’s elites and explores the underlying social forces at play.

Tyler and Musa explore the rise and fall of the "Great Awokening" and more, including how elite overproduction fuels social movements, why wokeness tends to fizzle out, whether future waves of wokeness will ratchet up in intensity, why neuroticism seems to be higher on the political Left, how a great awokening would manifest in a Muslim society, Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam, why Musa left Catholicism, who the greatest sociologist of Islam is, Muslim immigration and assimilation in Europe, and more.

Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.

Recorded September 19th, 2024.

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