Checks and Balance from The Economist Woke croaks: “peak woke” has passed
Sep 27, 2024
Ainslie Johnstone and Sacha Nauta from The Economist, along with Professor Musa al-Gharbi, delve into the decline of wokeness in America. They discuss how societal attitudes towards issues like race and privilege have shifted, marking a significant change from peak wokeness in 2021-22. The conversation analyzes the rise of anti-woke sentiments and their implications for future political dynamics. They also reflect on the historical context of social movements, emphasizing the importance of free speech in today’s polarized climate.
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Who Moved The Most On Woke Views
- White Democrats became more likely than Black people to endorse discrimination-based explanations at peak wokeness.
- Young people were most woke but also showed the steepest recent decline.
Awakenings Linked To Elite Overproduction
- Musa al-Gharbi links "great awakenings" to elite overproduction and economic dislocation.
- Historical peaks (1920s–30s) arose when elites felt entitled but blocked from expected lives.
1960s Protests Were Contextual
- The 1960s awakening combined underemployment of knowledge workers with draft changes that mobilized students.
- Protests rose when college students could be drafted, not only because of the Vietnam War itself.