Awakenings are likely to occur during periods of elite overproduction, where society generates individuals who feel entitled to higher standards of living and social status. When these individuals cannot attain the lives they expect despite following societal success norms, they often challenge the existing social order. This discontent is similar to historical contexts, such as the prosperity boom of the 1920s leading to the Great Depression, spurred by economic downturns and global crises, illustrating a recurring cycle of societal upheaval stemming from unmet expectations.
Over the past decade a form of wokeness arose on the illiberal left, characterised by extreme pessimism about America and its capacity to make progress. Analysis by The Economist of how influential these ideas are today finds that wokeness peaked in 2021-22 and has since receded. Why is America becoming less “woke”?
John Prideaux hosts with Charlotte Howard and Idrees Kahloon. They’re joined by The Economist’s Ainslie Johnstone and Sacha Nauta, and Professor Musa al-Gharbi of Stony Brook University.
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