Jacobin Radio Dig: Rogue State w/ Aziz Rana
May 4, 2025
Aziz Rana, a Professor at Boston College Law School, dives deep into the evolution of the American project and its constitutional worship. He discusses the rise of nativism and authoritarianism in the U.S., linking it to neoliberalism's roots and cultural shifts of the 1970s. Exploring the complexities of gender roles, political norms, and the very fabric of American identity, Rana critiques the constitutional design while advocating for grassroots support to counter the far-right. The conversation highlights the urgent need for reform in the face of systemic inequalities.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Originalism Unites Right-Wing Forces
- Originalism resurged in the 1970s as a conservative interpretive method linking ethno-nationalist, business, and social conservative right-wing forces.
- It promotes returning to the framers' original meanings, aligning with reactionary restorationism against 20th-century social changes.
Gender, Politics, and Economic Power
- Masculinist populism in America ties men’s political inclusion to economic independence and male control of the family.
- Feminist movements linked gender liberation to economic transformation and fought patriarchal divisions of labor.
Blindspot on Constitutional Structure
- Public conversation ignored the undemocratic design of the US Constitution until very recently.
- The dominant narrative focused narrowly on rights, missing key institutional flaws shaping political outcomes.
