Interesting article. I agree with most of your content, but I am not sure that I understand why you believe “Wokism needs a rebrand.” Many intellectuals have tried to rebrand the movement (many of which you list in the article), but none have yet succeeded.
It seems that the problem is that the Center-Right does not take the threat seriously, while the Center-Left takes the “nothing to see here” philosophy and often supports implementation of Woke ideology. I am not sure a rebrand is necessary.
I do not think the term “Woke” is silly. It is the idea itself that is the problem. The entire system of thought is fundamentally a universal acid of all necessary ideas and institutions that promote material progress and human flourishing. Calling it by a different name is just going to cause confusion among potential opponents.
The Woke are masters at the manipulation of language that make themselves appear to be in favor of one thing while they actually are the opposite. This is particularly useful at making the Center-Left their allies and making the Center-Right belief that they are harmless idiots. They are very careful to dodge any attempt to give them a name.
I believe the Left are the latest manifestation of the Totalitarian Left. If a rebrand is necessary, maybe that is the best term.
I think the reason the center-right doesn't take it seriously and the center-left is often enabling is because they both view "woke" mainly as a weaponized right-wing buzzword that they can safely dismiss, rather than as a dangerous continuation of a long line of anti-progress philosophies. Rebranding it to a move descriptive and precisely defined term that isn't weaponized by the new right is key to getting both the center-left and center-right to take the threat seriously rather than just rolling their eyes whenever someone complains about "the woke", as they do now.
I think the Totalitarian Left is on the right track but I'd be hesitant to lump it in with all of the left. The ideas are really foreign to the American left and identifying it with the entire left tradition is dangerous given the tribalist tendencies everyone seems to have today.
So what term do you prefer, and why do you think that using that term will change how the Center-Left and Center-Right view the problem?
I personally believe that the term “Critical theory” is more accurate, but few people understand what that means. People use the term “Woke” and somewhat understand it, so I use it instead.
I do not think the term “Totalitarian Left” lumps them with all the Left. It clearly differentiates from the Center-Left. And it shows the threat.
Perhaps the real problem is that the Center-Left and much of the Center-Right now views every concept that they disagree with as a “weaponized right-wing buzzword.” This is hardly the only issue where that term and similar terms are used. Climate change, immigration, misinformation, and election security are just a few more examples.
Beliefs that were common sense 20 years ago are now deemed “right wing” or “far right.” I think that is the result of the Woke manipulating language and the Center Left not having the moral courage to confront them. The “tribalism tendencies” that you fear are exactly what the Woke were trying to achieve.
This type of thinking and speaking has been common on the Left for over a century, but over the last decade, this type of thinking has become the norm in the Center. This is largely due to the Woke. Until the Center comes to terms with that, no rebranding will change their mind.
I was going to do another article on what term I think will work. I'll DM you to see what you think.
Sounds like we agree wokeism is a serious threat. The question is how do we get the center to take it seriously. Rebranding seems to be the necessary first step to getting the center, and especially the center-left, to take woke seriously. As a response to your last sentence, how do you expect the center to come to terms with the threat of wokeism if there is no rebranding? More complaining about woke? That doesn't seem to be working.
I think three straight Presidential election defeats is the only thing that will cause the American Center Left to rethink. As long as the Democrats win elections, they will keep doing what they are doing.
And to be clear, I think the Woke problem is only one of the many problems that is causing the Center Left to collapse throughout the Western world. They need to rethink their positions on a whole host of policies.
Interesting article. I agree with most of your content, but I am not sure that I understand why you believe “Wokism needs a rebrand.” Many intellectuals have tried to rebrand the movement (many of which you list in the article), but none have yet succeeded.
It seems that the problem is that the Center-Right does not take the threat seriously, while the Center-Left takes the “nothing to see here” philosophy and often supports implementation of Woke ideology. I am not sure a rebrand is necessary.
I do not think the term “Woke” is silly. It is the idea itself that is the problem. The entire system of thought is fundamentally a universal acid of all necessary ideas and institutions that promote material progress and human flourishing. Calling it by a different name is just going to cause confusion among potential opponents.
The Woke are masters at the manipulation of language that make themselves appear to be in favor of one thing while they actually are the opposite. This is particularly useful at making the Center-Left their allies and making the Center-Right belief that they are harmless idiots. They are very careful to dodge any attempt to give them a name.
I believe the Left are the latest manifestation of the Totalitarian Left. If a rebrand is necessary, maybe that is the best term.
I have more here:
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/understanding-diversity-equity-and
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/the-rebirth-of-the-totalitarian-left
I think the reason the center-right doesn't take it seriously and the center-left is often enabling is because they both view "woke" mainly as a weaponized right-wing buzzword that they can safely dismiss, rather than as a dangerous continuation of a long line of anti-progress philosophies. Rebranding it to a move descriptive and precisely defined term that isn't weaponized by the new right is key to getting both the center-left and center-right to take the threat seriously rather than just rolling their eyes whenever someone complains about "the woke", as they do now.
I think the Totalitarian Left is on the right track but I'd be hesitant to lump it in with all of the left. The ideas are really foreign to the American left and identifying it with the entire left tradition is dangerous given the tribalist tendencies everyone seems to have today.
So what term do you prefer, and why do you think that using that term will change how the Center-Left and Center-Right view the problem?
I personally believe that the term “Critical theory” is more accurate, but few people understand what that means. People use the term “Woke” and somewhat understand it, so I use it instead.
I do not think the term “Totalitarian Left” lumps them with all the Left. It clearly differentiates from the Center-Left. And it shows the threat.
Perhaps the real problem is that the Center-Left and much of the Center-Right now views every concept that they disagree with as a “weaponized right-wing buzzword.” This is hardly the only issue where that term and similar terms are used. Climate change, immigration, misinformation, and election security are just a few more examples.
Beliefs that were common sense 20 years ago are now deemed “right wing” or “far right.” I think that is the result of the Woke manipulating language and the Center Left not having the moral courage to confront them. The “tribalism tendencies” that you fear are exactly what the Woke were trying to achieve.
This type of thinking and speaking has been common on the Left for over a century, but over the last decade, this type of thinking has become the norm in the Center. This is largely due to the Woke. Until the Center comes to terms with that, no rebranding will change their mind.
I was going to do another article on what term I think will work. I'll DM you to see what you think.
Sounds like we agree wokeism is a serious threat. The question is how do we get the center to take it seriously. Rebranding seems to be the necessary first step to getting the center, and especially the center-left, to take woke seriously. As a response to your last sentence, how do you expect the center to come to terms with the threat of wokeism if there is no rebranding? More complaining about woke? That doesn't seem to be working.
I look forward to your article.
I think three straight Presidential election defeats is the only thing that will cause the American Center Left to rethink. As long as the Democrats win elections, they will keep doing what they are doing.
And to be clear, I think the Woke problem is only one of the many problems that is causing the Center Left to collapse throughout the Western world. They need to rethink their positions on a whole host of policies.
https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/the-left-has-hit-a-historical-dead
We can revisit this in November 2032 to see how the left has fared :)
Doesn’t really require that many words and references to who wrote what in the past.
Wokism: If you do not conform to the very, very few in society, then you are everythingphobic.
Pretty much explains it.