Yascha Mounk: Why Society Crumbles When We Obsess Over Identity

Yascha Mounk is a political scientist and author focused on the challenges facing liberal democracies and the rise of populism. As a Johns Hopkins University professor and senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, he critically examines identity politics in modern society. His influential works include "The People vs. Democracy" and "The Identity Trap."
In an era where identity politics reshapes global narratives, the urgent need to balance diversity with universal human values becomes clear. The melding of postmodernism, postcolonialism, and critical race theory raises a provocative question: Can embracing universal principles truly bridge our deepening societal divides? This challenge calls for a bold reimagining of our approach to social harmony and equality, urging a critical reassessment of how we navigate identity and inclusivity in a complex, interconnected world.
Prepare to discover who is masterminding the seismic shifts in identity-driven discourse, when the wave of identity politics surged reshaping societal norms, how esoteric academic concepts ignited a wildfire in sectarian ideology, what the contentious core and fiery critiques of this identity-centric dogma are, where the shockwaves of these philosophical upheavals are most profound, whether the rise of ethno-cultural politicking is a unifying force or a divisive storm, which intellectual giants and paradigms are the architects of these doctrines, why an intense focus on identity might unravel the fabric of collective values and societal harmony and so much more…
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Пікірлер: 29

  • @jeffwhite2511
    @jeffwhite25116 ай бұрын

    Identity politics is currently being driven be narcissim, individualism, duality and anthropocentrism and that doesn't bode well for the planet and people who are not narcissists, which is most of us

  • @kimberlysmith7311

    @kimberlysmith7311

    5 ай бұрын

    👋 Narcissism is on a spectrum, dear one. Everyone has at least a small amount of Narcissism. ❤😂

  • @steffenirgens7022

    @steffenirgens7022

    5 ай бұрын

    Most people living in western society are incredibly narcissistic. Ever heard of delusion? Like calling yourself the opposite of the one thing that is considered bad... That's group psychology 101. That's what Hitler capitalized on... That's rhetoric, not a statement about you, btw (which most people ironically would interpret it as)

  • @KateBrownYoga-zf3yy

    @KateBrownYoga-zf3yy

    5 ай бұрын

    what isn't a spectrum?! everything functions along a spectrum, so what's your point zeroing in on narcissism? i't s a trendy overused term of late, used mostly by folks who no NOTHING about theory of mind, personality theory, etc. @@kimberlysmith7311

  • @carlandrews5810
    @carlandrews58106 ай бұрын

    Thumbs up for the topic alone.

  • @joannwyang7411
    @joannwyang74115 ай бұрын

    I personally have a huge interest in political philosophy and sociology. This podcast has been doing a great job of meeting my needs with its coverage of religious philosophy and now also political philosophy?!! I couldn’t be more content with this episode! ❤️❤❤

  • @danielasacerdoti3910
    @danielasacerdoti39106 ай бұрын

    There's a Scottish traditional nursery rhyme that talks about "three crows sit upon a wall on a cold and frosty morning".

  • @simuliid
    @simuliid6 ай бұрын

    Identity politics is a reaction to systemwide breakdown. I see it in the high school kids, and it's a reaction to the innate knowledge things are getting worse, but not knowing how to fix it. Because it's too hard to fix.

  • @ambientjohnny

    @ambientjohnny

    6 ай бұрын

    A shift in perspective is far from being unachievable, it's just that there are too many idiots dominating the general discourse surrounding these issues, the useful knowledge and understanding isn't getting out there and harmful misconceptions and lies keep spreading like wildfire.

  • @KateBrownYoga-zf3yy

    @KateBrownYoga-zf3yy

    5 ай бұрын

    absolutely, it's a power struggle as we watch the planet burn and flood, which we did. we distract ourselves with a conversation about NOT knowing who we are.

  • @lauragiles5193
    @lauragiles51936 ай бұрын

    I was just thinking about this very tension that always exists between the individual and the universal. We fall off the beam when we can't see our common humanity while we also enjoy our individuality as well as our particular associations (religious, community, heritage, etc.) Also I have the experience from moving from an oppressed minority group in the US to a privileged position in life. I have come to realize that how we typify these experiences is in some ways -- not all ways -- false. When I was in an oppressed group (both my parents were foreign born, had accents, dressed a little differently and I grew up in a very WASPy town -- there was open prejudice expressed) I had an extremely stable family and a modest but all I needed life. But as I moved into a more privileged position in society I experienced significant sexual harassment, a chronic illness, the mental illnesses of a close family member and other personal traumas. Well, let's just say my newfound privilege was not all it was cracked-up to be. Suffering is universal and I never make assumptions that someone is exempt from suffering. Reaching out to someone suffering is how we bond. WHICH does not mean I don't see that our society has real problems with racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. Essentially I believe that personalism is the way out: there is not a single person that does have a unique story but that there will also always be points of connection because we share the human condition. I enjoy working for social justice on a variety of fronts but also how seeing how none us fit neatly into categories.

  • @steffenirgens7022

    @steffenirgens7022

    5 ай бұрын

    There's a reason the Buddha went from his previous luxurious life, and he did not do it on grace exactly. Unfortunately, we uphold an image about the perfect life that is far from perfect to stimulate the economy, based on the works of Freud. It began to tear prior to Covid, and I'm not saying it's a definite conspiracy (because I don't know for sure) - just an observation, but when people were starved enough from the isolation - people are now more interested in ever to stimulate the centralized economy, and social policing is back in full force... Incidentally, the bitcoin craze faded out when people needed to cash out their savings (and witnessed the crash, which also was started by some big movers), and multibillion dollar companies has made a lot of money selling vaccines and ammunition. It just seems a bit too coincidental in my opinion... As well for the social shaming of people who did not take vaccines (which I did take), or the support of Ukraine (which I do support) - without much concern to anything beside the legalistic moralistic "rules" - like antivaxers taking extra precautions, or vaxers dismissing normal hygienical advice. People have become increasingly moralistic since then, and are on high alert for any potential "narcissists"... I think it's wise to reflect upon trends, and wonder exactly why they are trends without too much consideration to the general public, because that's almost always capitalized on... The economy will eventually fail without any major wars, or without the introduction of a police state as well as a social caste system and increased government control (not arguing against it, because the lack of control has led to the situation at hand), because of the underlying groundwork of the economy as well as growing debt. Keep in mind the deflection on how China is treating their citizens, while we are without a doubt being spied upon at this very moment - as well as rising criminality rates - I think we will definitely welcome a police state, especially considering the psychology of the normal person who believes it's okay to lie, but just enough that it doesn't get you in trouble by adhering to the norm, reinforced by media entertainment. Entertainment tells a different story today than it did in the 90s, and you might wonder what created what - but we are always looking for something new. Trends... Having some sort of a Putin (at least in function) wouldn't be so bad, as long as I don't get in trouble, and as long as I get to enjoy the things I enjoy... And the whole thing kind of sounds like the agenda of the WEF... I guess I belong in the woods then. And unfortunately for the individual, we will become more dependent on images to solve our problems - technology, medicine, etc. When in reality, we already have most of our solutions naturally inside us. That doesn't make for a good profit and a hierarchy though. Create cancer - cure cancer. That is hyperbolical, but still...

  • @leonardowolff2177
    @leonardowolff21775 ай бұрын

    The basis of identity politics is prejudice. Prejudice that all people from a minority think or should think the same. That belonging to a group defines you. It is not focused in what every humans share and rationality. Rationality is the only thing in comum between man. Everything must be considerated with rationality, not individual experience and particular feelings. Particular emotions and experiences divides us.

  • @IronEarthDesigns
    @IronEarthDesigns6 ай бұрын

    I'm making one last comment here. I am not going to comment on this anymore. What is more narcissistic than an ex president who refused to concede defeat and nearly staged a coup(e?) If you search online I'm sure you can find film clips from the 1950s. Rock and roll was just becoming popular. I remember a fiery speech by a white possibly official, or possibly just a klansman, or both, predicting the downfall of American society because of the introduction of rock music. He predicted that rock music would lead to widespread miscegenation and therefore the whole country would fall apart. This fear of institutional destruction must be some type of archetype, because that's often the response in multiple arenas when there is a challenge to the way things have been. Multiple churches have responded to charges of sexual abuse by its clerical staff by counter-charging 'You are trying to destroy our church." Or with gay marriage "You're making a mockeru of marriage." So my question is why is that? Why is a call for change often conflated with institutional destruction? As I see it, the only thing different between now and say the 1950s (which people seem to be absolutely in love with that's some sort of golden age).... is that the identity politics favored the people who have historically been in charge. Everyone black everyone Brown everyone Asian Every Woman knew that identity was active and absolutely instrumental and how their lives ran. The only people who didn't think that were white guys who truly believed hat everything they had, did, or were involved with, was merit-based. I would argue that this argument that's being presented here it's being presented as an either/or proposition, as unecessarily dualistic. Identity awareness does not mean that one is necessarily narcissistic. It also doesn't mean that one is unable to empathize with other people. Ask someone who has to continually analyze current events Etc from multiple lenses, much of this serms like an intellectual workaround for people in historically dominant groups. In order to have a society that is inclusive for all people and gives all groups, the majority and the minority, access to the good things in life, both sides or multiple sides are going to have to do internal work. That is what I don't see happening. I don't see groups of white people getting together for groups to talk about how they were raised around race. I don't see groups of men getting together to talk about how they were raised around issues around of gender. What I see is this centrist position coming from groups who have been socially dominant. " If it doesn't support me! If I can't do exactly what I want, or what my father was able to do when he was my age, then we are headed for destruction." That's not the intent. 'Finally, given that women are 50 percent usually of the population globally, and that people of color are at least 80% of the population globally, I find it interesting that these movements are not considered universal. Because usually what those groups are asking for are things that benefit human beings across the board. I am so disgusted with all of this.

  • @Liyah-encyclopedia333
    @Liyah-encyclopedia3336 ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤

  • @AndyJarman
    @AndyJarman2 ай бұрын

    Often the meaning of a word is within the word used to describe the meaning. Under Stand To accept the proposition is superior to you current cognition and to position yourself as a supplicant would to a teacher.

  • @patriciamorgan2501
    @patriciamorgan25016 ай бұрын

  • @jeffwhite2511
    @jeffwhite25116 ай бұрын

    Agreed

  • @leonardowolff2177
    @leonardowolff21775 ай бұрын

    We can make the law equal to everyone. But we can't change culture by force through a "just" discrimination. Like there is a correct and a wrong kind of discrimination. Things will get better slowly. We shouldn't want to change the world in a few decades. If we start seeing us as equals and share existence together, the world will improve.

  • @Drew_Hurst
    @Drew_Hurst5 ай бұрын

    Withhold judgement of Others as much and as long as utterly possible because the moment You decide of a judgement of anothers identity, You'll always be wrong pidgion holing People, because Everyone is truly unique. The same is true for Oneself, if the identity is anything that is superficial or subject to change. Ego, (ego-mind-thought) is the illusion at the root of all identity, up to but excluding, the realization of One's true Self. The true Self is unchanging, eternal, Spirit. Universalism, if I understand the concept correctly, is a quality that's wise and noble to pursue, in that; 'What's good for All is good for Self, but what's good for Self may not be good for All.' May All be well.

  • @m.m.8159
    @m.m.81595 ай бұрын

    It is crucial to be aware of the net cast upon us by identity politics. Transcending within does not always and immediately equal transcending without. As part of the process, we must be aware, we must learn to transcend societal nets, too.

  • @cymatic3013

    @cymatic3013

    5 ай бұрын

    If transcending within = a fulfilled sense of self and existence, what would transcending without look like and having one without the other?

  • @danilles.4247

    @danilles.4247

    4 ай бұрын

    And we have to be careful that when we “transcend without” we are not doing so by spiritually bypassing our moral responsibilities and abandoning our fellow humans and the plight for material justice

  • @MyriamLacroix-st6ci
    @MyriamLacroix-st6ciАй бұрын

    I don't agree with his suggestion that having dedicated numbers to call in case of micro agression is de facto saying to student they'll be victimized in some ways, how can he say that he wants to be able to create safe spaces for the women in his life when he's agaisnt concrete actions in favor for that? Having people to talk to is not celebrating self victimization! Rant over ill keep watching, might edit or add more.

  • @advandepol7537
    @advandepol75376 ай бұрын

    I like the gentleman very much, and it is clear that his take on universalism is not just something theoretical, but also part of his personality. But I do have some reservations. At 39:35 he talks about John Stuart Mill, who, notwithstanding his noble aspiration, would not be able to live on equal terms with his wife. Well, for ages homosexuality has been a no-no, and still all the time there have been those relationships, because they were able to cover it up. His statement about the unpriviliged complaining about the rights of the priviliged which has to do in some miraculous way with the lack of insight in the history of loss, will probably resonate with the elite public here, but would be received with contemptuous mockery in left circles, and disappoints me so very much from him. It is clear that he has betrayed his left past, which always comes with rewards in the american culture, and obversely. If you want to give an oligarchy an easy time, then tell the people 1. You have to wait for the Redeemer, 2. all the bad you see is a projection, 3. loss is part of the game of life, and you should accept that, 4. if you can't empathize with them, that will keep them from empathizing with you. Do the three of you recognize that a corrupt elite in power can make life really really miserable for a lot of people. Wait till Trump becomes president again.

  • @dshetler84

    @dshetler84

    5 ай бұрын

    Well, the contemptuous mockery he'd receive from leftist circles speaks ill of them, not him. Time for leftists to stop earning the label "regressive left" from the likes of those from Dave Rubin to Ken Wilber, and grow up.

  • @cymatic3013

    @cymatic3013

    5 ай бұрын

    What makes you so sure the oligarchy could ever have an easy time?

  • @europeanobserver6157
    @europeanobserver6157Ай бұрын

    Well (52:03), no you don't know the struggles of someone who went to the south pole, experienced WWI in the trenches under all the shelling, neither someone who finished a 3 day marathon with 1 hour of sleep! You can guess and somewhat 'understand'. Yet it would certainly be ridiculous to claim that you can sympathize on basis of fundamental feelings! The feelings may be the same! But the struggles are certainly very different and most certainly not understandable by fact of a common humanity (though feelings are expressed in a similar way)! That said, I am certainly not an an identity ideologist (or essential ist, for that matter) ! But to claim, that the mere fact that we have feelings ignores the cultural conditions of feelings, how the individual reacts and deals with perceived feelings, and measures it takes! Insofar the claim, that empathy is 'universal' or 'global' seems to be an academic dead end of a liberal kind whilst certainly rooted in Marxism! Again, 'two sides of the same coin'!