Musa al-Gharbi, a sociologist and assistant professor at Stony Brook University, discusses his provocative insights from his upcoming book. He analyzes how occupational roles influence political leanings, suggesting surprising connections between work and affiliations. Al-Gharbi critiques the 'symbolic capital elite,' questioning why those advocating for equality still perpetuate inequalities. He also explores the complex relationship between wokeness and symbolic capitalism, revealing the inadequacies of both narratives in addressing social justice.
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insights INSIGHT
Obscured Narratives
Symbolic capitalists' narratives about their virtuousness obscure their role in perpetuating societal problems.
This hinders true progress on social issues they claim to care about.
insights INSIGHT
Symbolic Capital vs. Physical Goods
Symbolic capital, based on knowledge, connections, and reputation, is a key differentiator.
Occupation, even across income levels, better predicts political leanings than class.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Shoe Sales vs. Academia
Al-Gharbi contrasts his experiences in shoe sales and academia.
He highlights the tangible help provided in sales versus the often abstract nature of academic work.
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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.
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.
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New Books in Political Science 
