The Dig Liberal Hegemon w/ Aziz Rana
Apr 19, 2025
Aziz Rana, a Professor of Law at Boston College and author of 'The Two Faces of American Freedom', dives into the making of the American project. He discusses the intersection of American liberalism and empire, highlighting the impact of the Supreme Court and McCarthyism. Rana also critiques immigration policies that reflect ethno-nationalism and examines the complex history of the Communist Party USA. With key insights on FDR's transformative leadership, listeners gain a fresh understanding of the paradoxes in American constitutionalism.
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Diverse Radical Views on Constitution
- The Constitution was broadly critiqued by left and progressive groups pre-WWI, seen as counter-revolutionary and limiting democracy.
- Different visionary approaches emerged, from formal constitutional reform to skepticism about state electoral politics and favors to direct workplace control.
WWI Shapes Reactionary Constitutionalism
- WWI catalyzed nationalist constitutional veneration tied to repression of dissent and left critics.
- This patriotic constitutionalism became linked to business elites, nativist groups, 100% Americanism, and a crackdown on socialist and immigrant critics.
First Red Scare’s Dual Effects
- The First Red Scare was a violent crackdown on leftists and immigrants.
- Suppression weakened left institutions but also fostered black internationalism and anti-colonial politics amid pervasive racial violence.
