Big Think Johns Hopkins professor: Identity politics—and why I think it spells trouble | Yascha Mounk
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May 20, 2025 
Yascha Mounk, a professor at Johns Hopkins and founder of Persuasion, dives into the complexities of identity politics. He critiques the rise of 'identity synthesis' and its implications for democracy, arguing it prioritizes group identity over universal principles. The discussion highlights how social media fuels complex identity narratives and critiques the overextension of the term 'racism', which Mounk believes can dilute genuine discussions about racial injustice. He advocates for a return to universal values as a pathway to social progress.
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Identity Synthesis Ideology
- A rising ideology on the left now suggests that state treatment should depend on identity groups born into, not universal principles.
- This represents a significant shift from fighting injustice by upholding universal equality to group-based differentiation.
Roots of Identity Synthesis
- The identity synthesis blends intellectual ideas from postmodernism, postcolonialism, and critical race theory.
- It originated with thinkers like Michel Foucault who linked political power to discourse.
Strategic Essentialism Explained
- Gayatri Spivak promoted "strategic essentialism": embracing identity categories as practically necessary despite philosophical skepticism.
- This approach helps marginalized groups gain political voice when direct representation is difficult.
