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The Rise of Populist Grievance (MAGA woke)
Posted on: August 2, 2025 at 18:18:01 CT
TigerMatt STL
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A central theme in MAGA and woke ideology is that both movements are rooted in a sense of grievance and a belief that a powerful, corrupt establishment has wronged them.
For the "woke" movement, the grievance is a feeling of being oppressed by a system of historical injustice, institutional racism, and social hierarchies. The "establishment" is seen as the perpetuator of these inequalities. The goal is to dismantle these systems and achieve social justice for marginalized groups.
For the MAGA movement, the grievance is a feeling of being left behind by economic globalization and cultural changes. The "establishment" is seen as a "deep state" of political elites, globalists, and a biased media that is actively working against the interests of "real Americans" and traditional values.
Both movements, therefore, draw their energy from a strong sense of victimhood and a belief that the nation's institutions are rigged against them.
Identity Politics as a Mobilizing Force
Both movements are also using a form of identity politics to rally their supporters, though the specific identities they focus on are very different.
The "woke" movement is explicitly built on identity, with a focus on issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation. It seeks to elevate the voices and address the injustices of historically marginalized communities.
The MAGA movement also uses identity as a core organizing principle, but it is centered on a specific vision of American identity, often rooted in nationalism, traditional values, and a perceived shared culture. This identity politics is often an expression of white or Christian identity, mobilizing a base that feels its cultural dominance is under threat.
In both cases, these movements create a strong "in group" identity and a clear "out group" of opponents.
Moral Absolutism and "Cancel Culture"
A third similarity is a shared tendency toward moral absolutism and an uncompromising approach to political debate.
The "woke" movement has been accused of using "cancel culture" to ostracize and silence individuals who express opinions deemed offensive or insensitive. This is often framed as a way to hold people accountable for harmful speech and to enforce a new set of social norms.
The MAGA movement also engages in a form of "cancel culture," but it is directed at different targets, such as "woke" corporations, liberal institutions, and media outlets. They often use aggressive rhetoric to delegitimize their opponents, casting them as enemies of the state or "fake news" to be ignored or attacked.
This zero sum mentality, where opponents are not just wrong but morally corrupt, is a key characteristic of both movements, fueling the intense polarization in American society. Some political analysts have even used the term "woke right" to describe a faction of conservatives who, in their fight against "wokeness," have adopted some of the same tactics and a similar focus on identity and grievance.
Edited by TigerMatt at 18:19:14 on 08/02/25
For the "woke" movement, the grievance is a feeling of being oppressed by a system of historical injustice, institutional racism, and social hierarchies. The "establishment" is seen as the perpetuator of these inequalities. The goal is to dismantle these systems and achieve social justice for marginalized groups.
For the MAGA movement, the grievance is a feeling of being left behind by economic globalization and cultural changes. The "establishment" is seen as a "deep state" of political elites, globalists, and a biased media that is actively working against the interests of "real Americans" and traditional values.
Both movements, therefore, draw their energy from a strong sense of victimhood and a belief that the nation's institutions are rigged against them.
Identity Politics as a Mobilizing Force
Both movements are also using a form of identity politics to rally their supporters, though the specific identities they focus on are very different.
The "woke" movement is explicitly built on identity, with a focus on issues of race, gender, and sexual orientation. It seeks to elevate the voices and address the injustices of historically marginalized communities.
The MAGA movement also uses identity as a core organizing principle, but it is centered on a specific vision of American identity, often rooted in nationalism, traditional values, and a perceived shared culture. This identity politics is often an expression of white or Christian identity, mobilizing a base that feels its cultural dominance is under threat.
In both cases, these movements create a strong "in group" identity and a clear "out group" of opponents.
Moral Absolutism and "Cancel Culture"
A third similarity is a shared tendency toward moral absolutism and an uncompromising approach to political debate.
The "woke" movement has been accused of using "cancel culture" to ostracize and silence individuals who express opinions deemed offensive or insensitive. This is often framed as a way to hold people accountable for harmful speech and to enforce a new set of social norms.
The MAGA movement also engages in a form of "cancel culture," but it is directed at different targets, such as "woke" corporations, liberal institutions, and media outlets. They often use aggressive rhetoric to delegitimize their opponents, casting them as enemies of the state or "fake news" to be ignored or attacked.
This zero sum mentality, where opponents are not just wrong but morally corrupt, is a key characteristic of both movements, fueling the intense polarization in American society. Some political analysts have even used the term "woke right" to describe a faction of conservatives who, in their fight against "wokeness," have adopted some of the same tactics and a similar focus on identity and grievance.
Edited by TigerMatt at 18:19:14 on 08/02/25
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The Rise of Populist Grievance (MAGA woke) - TigerMatt STL - 8/2 18:18:01
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