The Dig Liberal Hegemon w/ Aziz Rana
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Apr 19, 2025 
Aziz Rana, a Professor of Law at Boston College and author of 'The Two Faces of American Freedom', dives into the making of the American project. He discusses the intersection of American liberalism and empire, highlighting the impact of the Supreme Court and McCarthyism. Rana also critiques immigration policies that reflect ethno-nationalism and examines the complex history of the Communist Party USA. With key insights on FDR's transformative leadership, listeners gain a fresh understanding of the paradoxes in American constitutionalism.
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WWI Shapes Reactionary Constitutionalism
- WWI catalyzed nationalist constitutional veneration tied to repression of dissent and left critics.
- This patriotic constitutionalism became linked to business elites, nativist groups, 100% Americanism, and a crackdown on socialist and immigrant critics.
First Red Scare’s Dual Effects
- The First Red Scare was a violent crackdown on leftists and immigrants.
- Suppression weakened left institutions but also fostered black internationalism and anti-colonial politics amid pervasive racial violence.
1920s Constitution Veneration & Nativism
- 1920s constitutional celebration was reactionary, secretively inspired by Mussolini's architecture to awe citizens and strengthen elites.
- Anti-immigrant laws rose, English-only tied to 100% Americanism, mixing civic nationalism with racial exclusion.
