UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Glenn Loury: Elon Musk’s apartheid politics
Jan 30, 2026
Glenn Loury, economist and Brown professor who was Harvard’s first tenured Black professor, critiques a new strain of Right-wing identity politics. He argues Elon Musk misapplies South African racial frames to the US. Loury warns this adoption of racial essentialism reshapes political alliances and strains institutions. He closes by urging a principled, non-identitarian response.
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Category Mistake About Race
- Glenn Loury warns Elon Musk's race rhetoric makes a dangerous category mistake by equating the U.S. with South Africa's post-apartheid dynamics.
- Loury argues U.S. institutions and history differ markedly and demographic essentialism misdiagnoses social problems.
Right Adopts Identity Politics
- Loury observes the right has adopted identitarian tactics rather than rejecting the left's identity politics.
- He sees this as a normalization of identitarianism across the spectrum that is politically destructive.
Choose Principle Over Cheap Appeals
- Prioritize high-minded, visionary leadership to counter identity-based politics rather than emotional mobilization.
- Avoid cheap, emotion-driven appeals that energize voters but deepen identitarian divides.