The term “woke capitalism” expresses peoples' economic frustration, but the right uses that frustration to promote reactionary social causes instead of economic democracy.
Really enjoyed reading this, but would push back on one thing. The entire "Woke Capitalism" and "Woke Culture" argument is grounded in white supremacist dog whistles. It's an easy way to rile up racial tensions while gaslighting about corporations.
And I think you allude to this, but it's a clear sign that the Republican Party, or at minimum, the far right does not actually have real policy solutions for the problems people are facing. All they have is anger, outrage and supremacy. What benefits them is that we exist in a country currently experiencing late stage capitalism, and our leaders on all side of the political spectrum are intellectually lazy, incompetent, self interested, or all of the above. While they sit by and watch more people struggle, confidence in this governing structure continues to erode. We will eventually hit a point of no return and that point might be where the right is finally able to take full control of what's left of this country.
So many good points! It’s so very similar in Europe. Watered down versions of various critical and emancipatory movements are being integrated, necessarily producing breaks and clashes. The very Institution at the forefront of the deadly fortress Europe, FRONTEX, can advertise jobs under a »diversity« banner and white liberals will happily lap it up. For them, there must always be »the others« that must be kept outside, to have this form of »diversity« without content on the inside. It’s so enraging to see.
Hard to argue it's similar to Europe. Clearly even the legal standard and the existence of Unions makes it hard to argue. Not to mention the fact that altough some politicial parties in Europe critique woke economics if you will it isn't like one of the only main parties does and not quite with such ferocity. Frontex is rather controversial, fair point there, but I doubt many people lap it up as you put it given that Frontex may offer jobs under the diversity banner. Various people support or don't support Frontex for various reasons and has I think much more to do with how they feel about immigration than a question of diversity.
I regularly witness people using all the rhetoric about diversity, equity and inclusion (strictly business ofc) and talk shit about »bad« immigrants (»economic« refugees from northern African states) and »good« refugees (war-refugees from Ukraine). Here, the authenticity-vs-inauthenticity-line reliably runs along racialization and cultural identity. »Security« and »stability« arguments are used in appeasement to the reactionaries. The German far-right AfD is pulling more and more victories, with active help from Christian Conservatives and Liberals. The social democrats and greens have in part joined in, especially when it comes to deportations and perceptions of neighborhood security. The German Left is splitting apart into a conservative-socialist and a liberal-socialist wing, likely losing even more traction in the parliament. The overall political spectrum has moved to the right. Capital does what capital does and speaks in political tongues because it’s now business. The difference is not that fundamental I’d say.
Hmm thanks for the reply. I think the difference is fundamental, no matter what politics one has. A case in point is that your example is focused on Germany, many other European countries see the far right do well in Polls or enter Goverment. To some extend these are similar developments, to some not. Some European countries have also voted out populist parties, how does that fit into the picture ? After all Frontex's actions and the flux of immigrants in 2015 affected all European countries though unequally.
Regarding the argument about the languague around immigration being adopted by other parties and that leading to support to the AfD, since people prefer the original. I think this phenomenon exists, but it's difficult to quantify. There are some good attempts though like the work of Aurelien Mondon.
I think however that while the argument has some validity it's important to recognise it's not all and neither is the AfD winning inevitable. Clearly AfD support in the polls is often the result of crisis and less a result of actions or developments of the AfD itself (i.e. poll surges in crisis reflect that). At the same time that shows a willingness to accept the AfD even as it has grown more radical under the thumb of Höcke's fraction.
Another common argument is that AfD support is mostly or typically linked to opposition to immigration, usually made in the context of the influx of refugees in 2015 that saw the AfD surge in the polls. In turn that reflects on your argument that frontex's actions or opposition to immigration and language around that is key. I'm not sure how strong the argument is. The topic has been one of the most potent for the AfD at the same time their position has more or less always been strongly against and so it seems more like the people flowing to it are either convinced, which is unlikely with so many suddenly, or see a problem, the more likely option I think. The danger is also that as the party's views on some topic become acceptable other topics might open up as well.
Different parties are dealing with it differently. The Union is it seems trying to take on some topics, and the surrounding, languague will shedding away from others and maintaining a distence. The SPD is I think talking about these as real problems, when they see some, but not giving in to right wing solutions. While I think the Greens are in a similar position the SPD, except that they also serve as whipping boy for the far right which is dangerous.
We're still in the early stages of this and ir's unclear how parties will deal with it it also depends on how strong that support in the poll remains. But I think if the AfD grows stronger the left could experience a rallying effect as has been seen in other European countries when the far right grew stronger, like France or Spain. Fracturing is however also a possibility.
Hope this helps to add maybe some different perspectives. Feel free to agree or disagree with parts as you see it. Just thought might be interesting to share. Thanks for reading
Really enjoyed reading this, but would push back on one thing. The entire "Woke Capitalism" and "Woke Culture" argument is grounded in white supremacist dog whistles. It's an easy way to rile up racial tensions while gaslighting about corporations.
And I think you allude to this, but it's a clear sign that the Republican Party, or at minimum, the far right does not actually have real policy solutions for the problems people are facing. All they have is anger, outrage and supremacy. What benefits them is that we exist in a country currently experiencing late stage capitalism, and our leaders on all side of the political spectrum are intellectually lazy, incompetent, self interested, or all of the above. While they sit by and watch more people struggle, confidence in this governing structure continues to erode. We will eventually hit a point of no return and that point might be where the right is finally able to take full control of what's left of this country.
So many good points! It’s so very similar in Europe. Watered down versions of various critical and emancipatory movements are being integrated, necessarily producing breaks and clashes. The very Institution at the forefront of the deadly fortress Europe, FRONTEX, can advertise jobs under a »diversity« banner and white liberals will happily lap it up. For them, there must always be »the others« that must be kept outside, to have this form of »diversity« without content on the inside. It’s so enraging to see.
Hard to argue it's similar to Europe. Clearly even the legal standard and the existence of Unions makes it hard to argue. Not to mention the fact that altough some politicial parties in Europe critique woke economics if you will it isn't like one of the only main parties does and not quite with such ferocity. Frontex is rather controversial, fair point there, but I doubt many people lap it up as you put it given that Frontex may offer jobs under the diversity banner. Various people support or don't support Frontex for various reasons and has I think much more to do with how they feel about immigration than a question of diversity.
I regularly witness people using all the rhetoric about diversity, equity and inclusion (strictly business ofc) and talk shit about »bad« immigrants (»economic« refugees from northern African states) and »good« refugees (war-refugees from Ukraine). Here, the authenticity-vs-inauthenticity-line reliably runs along racialization and cultural identity. »Security« and »stability« arguments are used in appeasement to the reactionaries. The German far-right AfD is pulling more and more victories, with active help from Christian Conservatives and Liberals. The social democrats and greens have in part joined in, especially when it comes to deportations and perceptions of neighborhood security. The German Left is splitting apart into a conservative-socialist and a liberal-socialist wing, likely losing even more traction in the parliament. The overall political spectrum has moved to the right. Capital does what capital does and speaks in political tongues because it’s now business. The difference is not that fundamental I’d say.
Hmm thanks for the reply. I think the difference is fundamental, no matter what politics one has. A case in point is that your example is focused on Germany, many other European countries see the far right do well in Polls or enter Goverment. To some extend these are similar developments, to some not. Some European countries have also voted out populist parties, how does that fit into the picture ? After all Frontex's actions and the flux of immigrants in 2015 affected all European countries though unequally.
Regarding the argument about the languague around immigration being adopted by other parties and that leading to support to the AfD, since people prefer the original. I think this phenomenon exists, but it's difficult to quantify. There are some good attempts though like the work of Aurelien Mondon.
I think however that while the argument has some validity it's important to recognise it's not all and neither is the AfD winning inevitable. Clearly AfD support in the polls is often the result of crisis and less a result of actions or developments of the AfD itself (i.e. poll surges in crisis reflect that). At the same time that shows a willingness to accept the AfD even as it has grown more radical under the thumb of Höcke's fraction.
Another common argument is that AfD support is mostly or typically linked to opposition to immigration, usually made in the context of the influx of refugees in 2015 that saw the AfD surge in the polls. In turn that reflects on your argument that frontex's actions or opposition to immigration and language around that is key. I'm not sure how strong the argument is. The topic has been one of the most potent for the AfD at the same time their position has more or less always been strongly against and so it seems more like the people flowing to it are either convinced, which is unlikely with so many suddenly, or see a problem, the more likely option I think. The danger is also that as the party's views on some topic become acceptable other topics might open up as well.
Different parties are dealing with it differently. The Union is it seems trying to take on some topics, and the surrounding, languague will shedding away from others and maintaining a distence. The SPD is I think talking about these as real problems, when they see some, but not giving in to right wing solutions. While I think the Greens are in a similar position the SPD, except that they also serve as whipping boy for the far right which is dangerous.
We're still in the early stages of this and ir's unclear how parties will deal with it it also depends on how strong that support in the poll remains. But I think if the AfD grows stronger the left could experience a rallying effect as has been seen in other European countries when the far right grew stronger, like France or Spain. Fracturing is however also a possibility.
Hope this helps to add maybe some different perspectives. Feel free to agree or disagree with parts as you see it. Just thought might be interesting to share. Thanks for reading