It is time for democrats to end the circular shooting team between moderates and progressives. Each party blames the other for Trump's victory in 2024, each urging the other to adopt his diagnosis of what went wrong and to give in his vision of the path to follow.
The two parties must change – and the key is to understand not only the economy but also the cultural dimensions of politics.
Economy first. The moderates now recognize that neoliberal policies Like free trade during the eras of Clinton and Obama opened the door to far-right populism by steer generations Dream Americans – the implicit promise to do better than their parents. The hypotheses according to which the free markets increase all boats led Democrats to move away from the support of unions and good jobs in blue collar for emphasis on global trade and cheap consumer goods. The hollow of the subsequent American industry has led to the anger that fuels the extreme right. I am not a fan of Donald Trump, but I thank him for breaking the neoliberal consensus, going to an intense concentration (but probably ineffective) to bring it back good American jobs.
Hats off to moderate Democrats who are now joining progressives to center the way our economy is rigged in their analysis of what is wrong with America today. This new economic consensus among democrats represents real progress.
But it is not enough.
Trump won two elections not only because he gave the floor to economic frustrations, but also because he understands the cultural dimension of contemporary politics. “He gets us”, said a Trump voter in 2024. Like other populist figures, Trump connects culturally Average status voters in routine work who won far-right victories in Europe and the United States
Democrats must compete with Trump's cultural competence to connect with the working class, which will require changes in progressives. Immigration, which was a Definition of the question of each successful far -right movement offers a perfect example of the political power of cultural preferences based on classes.
The voters of the working class react to the arguments concerning the protection of America against the foreign “invaders” because being American is the strongest boastful of the blue passes; It is the source of their status, so they like politicians who underline it. A 2020 survey have noted that being American was an important part of the identity of 79% of Americans holding a secondary school diploma (at most), but only 43% of progressive activists with university predominance. On the other hand, colleges prefer to highlight their high -end subscription in a globalized elite. The voters of the working class also geographically define their communities, where they have networks based on the district and kinship. On the other hand, the “Brahmane on the left(To use the term Thomas Piketty) are considered to be part of an international community characterized by “feeling rules” which oblige empathy for immigrants and racial minorities, but less often for citizens unsuitable in the class of their own country.
The values of people reflect their lives, and their lives reflect their privilege – or its absence. It is a progressive message, with their acuity on racial and gender privilege, should be able to hear. This could help them reconcile with an uncomfortable fact: non -university voters of each racial group are less liberal that university graduates of the same group.
But moderates must also extend their cultural consciousness. When moderates like commentator Ruy Teixeira and the third -way defense group maintain that Democrats should Discard identity policy under the bus And abandon their strong opinions on trans and climate change, they also overlook the cultural dimension of contemporary politics. Just as the members of the Brahmane left must recognize that the logic of their lives differs from the logic of the life of the working class, the moderates must recognize that progressives are not content to give in questions such as climate change. These problems are deeply engraved in the identity of progressives: the Brahmane left is Really worried about the end of the worldEven if non-elites are more concerned with the end of the month.
What is the way to follow? To get advice, Democrats should remember how they won an important victory: homosexual marriage. At first, the leaders of the Homosexual Rights Movement were not as interested in marriage, said Matt Coleswho led the aclu equality center. But then they listened to other LGBTQ + people and recognized that those who wanted to get married “were not doctors and lawyers; They were ordinary and average people. ” Coles reflected: “I looked at their faces and I said to myself:” I get it now. It is the ball ball and the wedding ceremony and everything entered one. “” Understand that the typically aspiration of the working class – take advantage of the social honor and the stability offered by marriage – led the Gay equality movement to success.
There are a lot of discussions on the need of democrats for better messaging. It's too superficial. Schools and his homosexual rights colleagues changed their messaging into a person who resonated with the working class – but they also changed priorities. They did not abandon their vision of complete LGBTQ + rights, but they have changed their tactics to hire a wider range of people.
Democrats is the way to follow. Moderate and progressives must be opened to the modification of messaging and tactics by developing cultural competence to connect respectfully with non -university voters.
Joan C. Williams is director of the Action Center for Equality of UC Law San Francisco and the author of “White working class“And the next one”Outclass: How the left lost the working class and how to win them back. »»
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Ideas expressed in the play
- The author maintains that Democrats must address Economic and cultural concerns To reconnect with the voters of the working class, stressing that Trump's success comes from his ability to validate economic frustrations while resonating culturally with the voters of the intermediate status(1)(3). Moderate and progressives are invited to go beyond internal disputes and to recognize how Cultural preferences based on classes Shaping political allegiances, such as voters of the working class by favoring national identity and local community ties on globalized elite values(1)(3).
- Immigration is highlighted as a key cultural flash point, with non -university voters considering border security as a Statute protection problem linked to their sense of American identity. This contrasts with the progressives educated in the college, who most often underline empathy for immigrants and global citizenship(1)(3).
- The article emphasizes that progressives should not abandon questions such as climate change or trans rights but rather adopt tactics that align with the aspirations of the working class, similar to the Homosexual marriage movementwho succeeded by supervising marriage as a stabilizing institution evaluated through class lines(1)(3).
- The moderates are warned of the fact of completely rejecting identity policy, while progressives are invited to avoid condescending messages and to prioritize the awareness that recognizes economic insecurity As a unifying concern through racial and educational divisions(1)(3).
Different views on the subject
- Critics argue that Democrats overestimation on niche identity policy alienated the voters of the working class by focusing division cultural debates rather than shared economic difficulties. Third and moderate leaders recommend refocus on bread and butter problems such as jobs, wages and inflation to reconstruct confidence(1)(4).
- Some strategists, such as James Carville, urge Democrats Avoid cultural distractions And focus exclusively on economic messaging, such as the greed of businesses and the affordability of housing, which have a direct impact on the daily life of voters. This approach considers cultural problems as secondary to recovering credibility on fiscal policy(4)(5).
- Progressive criticism, including the allies of Bernie Sanders, argue that Economic policies alone– as health insurance for everyone and the support of the Union- can we bridge cultural divisions if it is associated with an authentic and popular commitment. They argue that the prioritization of tangible economic help promotes solidarity between classes without compromising progressive values(5).
- Others reject the premise that cultural problems are irreconcilable, pointing to success of the Biden era in the manufacture and growth of wages. They warn that conceding questions such as climate action or LGBTQ + RISCS risks demoralizing the democratic base and yielding the ground to extreme right stories(2)(5).
