The Professional Managerial Class (Ft. Theory Underground)
Dec 27, 2023
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This podcast discusses the influence of the Professional Managerial Class (PMC) on politics, class structures, and ideology. They explore the PMC's intersection with identity politics, its role in the dissolution of the Democrats' working-class base, and its presence in academia. The hosts bring on guests who have a dedicated course on the PMC and discuss its impact on leftist politics and Marxist, anarchist, and anti-capitalist ideologies. They also delve into the historical context of labor struggles, the orientations of liberalism, the concept of discursive Taylorism, and the critique of class identity politics. Lastly, they explore the intersection of universalism and intersectionality in political movements.
The rise of the Professional Managerial Class (PMC) has created class divisions and weakened the Democratic Party's working-class base.
The PMC's ideology prioritizes symbolic gestures and identity politics while perpetuating elitism and scapegoating the working class.
James Burnham's analysis of the PMC emphasizes its goals of class harmony and its impact on left-wing movements, while Thomas Frank critiques liberal class collaborationism and the dominance of the PMC within the Democratic Party.
Understanding the complexities and contradictions of the PMC's ideology is crucial for analyzing its influence on class divisions and political discourse.
Deep dives
The Rise of the PMC and its Impact on the Working Class
The podcast episode discusses the rise of the Professional Managerial Class (PMC) and its impact on the working class. The hosts highlight the historical development of the PMC and how it has become a dominant force within the Democratic Party. They examine the role of the PMC in creating class divisions and reproducing capitalist culture. The episode explores the tensions between the PMC and regular workers, emphasizing the disparities in access to resources, institutional support, and recognition. It also delves into the failure of the left to address the concerns of the working class and how the PMC's ideology perpetuates these divisions.
The Complexities of the PMC and its Ideological Influence
The podcast delves into the complexities of the PMC's influence and ideology. It argues that the PMC operates as a mode rather than a traditional class, drawing on Taylorism and managerial revolution theories. The hosts discuss the PMC's role in shaping discourse, highlighting the tendency to prioritize symbolic gestures, representation, and identity politics. They examine how the PMC's notions of meritocracy and vanguardism reinforce elitism and scapegoat the working class. The episode also critiques the PMC's obsession with specialization and its impact on democratic ideals.
Contrasting Perspectives on the PMC and Leftist Movements
The podcast explores different perspectives on the PMC's relationship with the left. It analyzes James Burnham's "The Managerial Revolution" and Thomas Frank's "Listen, Liberal!" as key texts in understanding this dynamic. The hosts discuss Burnham's analysis of the PMC's goals of class harmony and its impact on left-wing movements. They also highlight Frank's critique of liberal class collaborationism and the dominance of the PMC within the Democratic Party. The episode acknowledges the diverse viewpoints within the post-left movement, which question the effectiveness of PMC-dominated politics.
Assessing the Legacy and Future of the PMC in Political Discourse
The podcast episode concludes by discussing the legacy and future of the PMC in political discourse. It raises the question of whether the PMC's approach to politics is effective in mobilizing the working class. The hosts reflect on the backlash against PMC politics, exemplified by the rise of figures like Donald Trump. They highlight the need for a critical analysis of PMC influence and its implications for leftist movements. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding the complexities and contradictions surrounding the PMC's ideology and its impact on class divisions and political discourse.
Distinguishing Perspectives on the Post-Left
The podcast explores different perspectives on the post-left movement and the challenges of defining its various ideologies and approaches. It discusses the need to differentiate between these perspectives in order to avoid being lumped into a single category. The speakers share their own perspectives and discuss the importance of understanding the significance of the professional managerial class (PMC) in society.
The PMC's Role and Relationship with the Working Class
The episode delves into Barbara Aron Reich's writings on the PMC and its role in society. It highlights the tensions between the PMC and the working class, as well as the need for the PMC to collaborate with the working class in order to achieve meaningful change. The speakers explore the complexities of class identity politics and the challenges of bridging the gap between the two classes.
Intersectionality and its Critique
The podcast touches on the topic of intersectionality and its critique within activist spaces. The speakers express concerns about the way intersectionality can lead to a politics of dismissal and focus on representation rather than addressing systemic issues. They discuss the need for universal politics that prioritize class struggle, while acknowledging the real effects and complexities of identity in society.
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In this episode of the 1Dime Radio podcast, we discuss the influence that the so-called "Professional Managerial Class" (PMC) exerts on the political scene, class structures, and the ideology of the right and the contemporary "left." Discussion revolves around PMC's intersection with identity politics, its role in the dissolution of the Democrats' working-class base, and its permeation in academia. In this episode, we dive into the Origins of the PMC and the history of the theory surrounding it. This includes the work of Barbara Ehrenreich, James Burnham, Tomas Frank, Catherine Liu, among others I also express some of my criticisms of PMC discourse and the problem of "class identity politics."
There are numerous people who have written about the PMC. Adolph Reed, Catherine Liu, David Graeber, and many more. For this episode, I decided to bring on David McKerracher and Elton L.K. =, who have a short course on @theory_underground that is dedicated to understanding the PMC and the history of the theory behind it. You can find this course for free on YouTube and it covers a lot of the key ideas from the most important books written about the subject of the PMC: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlcbaQ1cp2TLyjRKSnWmx1glc3vC3SsRh&si=_OYcUrMwXh_RB9pk
Subscribe to Theory Underground: https://www.youtube.com/@theory_underground/featured
Elton L.K. is the founder and organizer of Dead Parrots Philosophical Society, a local public philosophy group that meets monthly in Boise. He runs two podcasts that relate more to his political work at the DSA: Working Class Intelligentsia, a podcast about Gramsci, and another called CLASS, which is an official education arm of the national education committee of the DSA.
David McKerracher (Dave), founder of Theory Underground, an educational platform for learning theory, and publishing house for organic intellectuals or aspiring theorists who pursue theory and philosophy outside of academia, or people with academic backgrounds who don't want to be restricted by academic fetters, i.e. renegade academics.
Dave and Elton are both contributors to the book Underground Theory, which features some big names like Slavoj Zizek, Alenka Zupancic, and some smaller names like Dave, Elton and myself: https://www.amazon.com/Underground-Theory-David-McKerracher/dp/B0CH2CXSGN
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