The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Mistaken Identity

Oct 19, 2023

Yascha Mounk, author and academic, discusses his new book 'The Identity Trap' and explores the negative impact of woke ideology on progress toward equality. They delve into the appeal of populism and nationalism and the allure of far-right demagogues. The podcast also addresses the power of in-group bias and the origins of neo-conservatism. A refreshing conversation highlighting the need to think beyond partisan lines.

01:06:35

Episode guests

Yascha Mounk

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The dominance of identity politics hinders political solidarity and undermines social recognition and equality.

Promoting identity-focused practices in schools can erode important institutions and hinder the education of children.

Understanding cultural nuances and promoting open dialogue can counter assumptions of cultural appropriation and encourage mutual cultural influence and exchange.

Deep dives

The Novel Ideology: A Departure from Traditional Leftist Assumptions

Yasha Mounk's latest book, The Identity Trap, explores a new set of ideas about race, gender, and sexual orientation that have become prominent in academia and mainstream institutions. He argues that this ideology represents a departure from traditional leftist assumptions and raises concerns about its origins and potential consequences.

Introduction

3min

The Trap: Exploring the Thesis

22min

The Spread and Response to Popularized Ideas

2min

Exploring the Role of Ideas, Historically Aggrieved Groups, and Equal Treatment

5min

The Coalition Instinct and the Power of In-Group Bias

23min

Exploring the Origins and Parallels of Neo-Conservatism

5min

A Refreshing Conversation and the Shifting Right

3min

It’s been a while since the Remnant featured some spirited kvetching about identity politics and wokeness in American life, but those issues haven’t exactly faded away. Today’s guest is Yascha Mounk, a prolific author and academic whose new book, The Identity Trap, examines where exactly woke ideology emerged from and how it became so influential. Yascha’s thesis is that an obsession with group identity is leading many progressives astray despite their good intentions, and that this is ultimately hindering progress toward true equality in American life. But why are so many people from across the political spectrum falling into the identity trap? What’s the appeal of populism and nationalism? And will Jonah’s growing crotchetiness soon cause him to completely give up on intellectual history?

Show Notes:

-Watch this interview on YouTube

-Yascha’s webpage

-Yascha’s new book, The Identity Trap

-Yascha’s previous book, The Great Experiment

-Yascha’s previous Remnant appearance

-Calvin Coolidge’s speech on America’s 150th birthday

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices