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harald_tromso 's review for:
The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics
by Mark Lilla
One of many interesting post-mortem reviews of why Trump was able to win the 2016 election in the US. Lilla's explanation is that unlike Roosevelt era politics and Civil Rights movement, the Democrats have become insulated from the people by an obsession with identity politics.
Identity politics (e.g. LGBT rights, black lifes matter, ethnic minorities etc) removes any common ground in democracy
"As soon as you cast an issue exclusively in terms of identity you invite your adversary to do the same. Those who play one race card should be prepared to be trumped by another, as we saw subtly and not so subtly in the 2016 presidential election. And it just gives that adversary an additional excuse to be indifferent to you."
Lilla thinks Reaganism and identity liberalism are just right wing vs left wing hyper-individualism
"What’s extraordinary—and appalling—about the past four decades of our history is that our politics have been dominated by two ideologies that encourage and even celebrate the unmaking of citizens. On the right, an ideology that questions the existence of a common good and denies our obligation to help fellow citizens, through government action if necessary. On the left, an ideology institutionalized in colleges and universities that fetishizes our individual and group attachments, applauds self-absorption, and casts a shadow of suspicion over any invocation of a universal democratic we."
Identity politics (e.g. LGBT rights, black lifes matter, ethnic minorities etc) removes any common ground in democracy
"As soon as you cast an issue exclusively in terms of identity you invite your adversary to do the same. Those who play one race card should be prepared to be trumped by another, as we saw subtly and not so subtly in the 2016 presidential election. And it just gives that adversary an additional excuse to be indifferent to you."
Lilla thinks Reaganism and identity liberalism are just right wing vs left wing hyper-individualism
"What’s extraordinary—and appalling—about the past four decades of our history is that our politics have been dominated by two ideologies that encourage and even celebrate the unmaking of citizens. On the right, an ideology that questions the existence of a common good and denies our obligation to help fellow citizens, through government action if necessary. On the left, an ideology institutionalized in colleges and universities that fetishizes our individual and group attachments, applauds self-absorption, and casts a shadow of suspicion over any invocation of a universal democratic we."