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A lot of the post-election debate over the direction of the Democratic Party has been between the "center-left" and the "left" ...
... But there is also a more obscure, though fervent and important debate between what is sometimes called the paleo-left or conversely, "post-left," and both the neoliberal center and the intersectional, activist left embodied by the Squad ...
... Figures on the "post left" -- or traditional, Marxist or labor-oriented left -- believe that the intersectional left has become too focused on cultural movements and symbolic causes that lack a mass, working-class constituency ...
... For those interested in understanding this "post-left" critique, which mainstream leftists deride as "class reductionist" or even reactionary, this new essay by @shantmm is a good place to start: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2020/12/the-lefts-culture-war-rebranding/
... For those asking whether this debate is really new, how significant it is, and who fits into the post-left/paleo-left box and who doesn't, I can share some more details ...
... The premise of a debate between elements of the center-left and the left over the value of either certain "social issue" emphases or policy stances, is not new ...
... But it's usually been centrists chiding leftists, etc.
The current deb ate is a reaction of both old-school Marxists (eg, Penn Prof. Adolph Reed) and liberal nationalists (eg, Michael Lind) to the rise of woke liberalism and a Bernie-influenced socialist left ...
The current deb ate is a reaction of both old-school Marxists (eg, Penn Prof. Adolph Reed) and liberal nationalists (eg, Michael Lind) to the rise of woke liberalism and a Bernie-influenced socialist left ...
... The latter has elements of the former in it, especially post 2016, which is why critics like @shantmm believe Bernie 2020 was less successful ...
... "Significance" is subjective because, as of yet, this is an intellectual movement with a diverse set of adherents.
These discussions are taking place on podcasts like @DeadPundits, Red Scare, and @whatsleft, and in journals like the Bellows and American Affairs ...
These discussions are taking place on podcasts like @DeadPundits, Red Scare, and @whatsleft, and in journals like the Bellows and American Affairs ...
... For more information, I'd read this piece by @Jacob__Siegel: https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/left-heretics-jilani-taibbi-tracey
This by @powellnyt: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/us/adolph-reed-controversy.html
And this by Lind: https://www.thebellows.org/the-double-horseshoe-theory/
This by @powellnyt: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/14/us/adolph-reed-controversy.html
And this by Lind: https://www.thebellows.org/the-double-horseshoe-theory/
