In the wake of Kamala Harris’s defeat, the Left’s association with identity politics has been a major focus of public debate. But what identity politics is or who primarily benefits from it remains contested.
In this episode of Confronting Capitalism, Vivek Chibber discusses the Democrats’ long-standing attachment to identity politics, why this form of politics can’t fight oppression, and the real history behind struggles for justice.
i stopped using spotify because of rogan; do you know where i can get a transcript of this?
- It’s not only on Spotify. I listened to it on Apple Podcasts and it’s also on Amazon’s Audible, and perhaps other places as well.
- Boycotting Spotify over hosting Rogan is kinda silly, especially when Apple & Amazon host him as well now. There is little praxis in that kind of politics. Jacobin again: “Voting With Your Dollars” Is an Antidemocratic Illusion
nothing to do with any praxis and entirely for my own sanity once i became vaguely aware that he was the face of mainstream americana; i likewise don’t do apple or amazon for similar reasons.
If this was just an article criticizing identify politics, that’d be one thing, but to identify it as a byproduct of capitalism is shortsighted and dishonest. Socialism has grasped with its own identity politics in every single socialist country: race, gender, ethnicity, and religion. These things don’t just go away. And sure, it wouldn’t be the " capitalist elites" pushing these items …it would be the political elites and beurocractic resource managers (i.e. the nomenklatura) that would use the SAME EXACT POLITICS to sew class division (i.e. divide and conquer - exploit the differences of the opposition to prevent the formation of a unified resistance to any sort of political elite). It can also be used to solidify power for the political elite - for example, when Stalin deported certain ethnic groups ( Chechins, Crimean Tartars, etc) by labeling them as “counter-revolutionaries”). It can be used to marginalize dissenters, label them as “not true socialists”, and accuse them of treason for not aligning with the class in solidarity.
Socialism isn’t some magical fix to the world and will come with its own nightmarish list of shortcomings.
I don’t think you listened to the podcast, because you seem to be criticizing flaws in arguments that weren’t made.
