Opinion: Democrats Have Power, but Shouldn’t Waste It on Woke Politics
A New Governing Test
Democrats have regained power and a new economic mandate after the midterm elections. The central question is whether they will govern according to that mandate. Christine Rosen raised the issue in a conversation with Catherine Liu, a left-wing cultural critic. Liu is the author of “Traumatized: The New Politics of Public Suffering.”
Identity Politics Remains
Rosen asked whether identity politics had ended. Liu answered that she did not think it had. Liu expects resistance to its decline. She said powerful interests remain invested in using trauma to pressure elites.
The Role Of Trauma
Liu describes the practice as “trauma politics.” In her account, Democratic elites continue to engage in culture wars rather than leaving those disputes behind. She pointed to what she called the NGO industrial complex as a source of resistance. Liu said trauma can be used as a blunt instrument to bring elites into line.
Key points
- Democrats have returned to power with a new economic mandate.
- Catherine Liu doubts identity politics is nearing its end.
- Liu says Democratic elites remain invested in culture wars and trauma politics.
- She links resistance to change with the NGO industrial complex.