I don't at all agree with Dilbert but reading these posts it's as if Merkel never said 'die multikultur hat gescheitert' (multiculturalism has failed) - identity conservatism has gained enormous amounts of ground in the past 20 years. In the UK May and others in the conservative party interpreted Brexit as a vote against free movement of people, which by and large it was. Right nationalist parties are polling very well in many countries, in some countries such as Austria they're even the largest party / in government. Not to begin touching on prevailing sentiments in Eastern Europe.
I feel it's true that much of it stems from bigotry and all the worst parts of nationalism and entrenched identity politics, but it's more complicated as well. It's undeniable that the huge influx of low skilled immigration from specific regions has increased social tensions in terrible ways. We've constructed whole neighbourhoods home to middle eastern or north african immigrants on low wages, where crime statistics are higher and who live mostly in a parallel, separate cultural reality. The new residents might even bring with them practices, social norms or ties with the home country that are completely incompatible with western thinking. Despite being a progressive myself (it may be to uzi's surprise but I'm a registered and formerly active social liberal) it's painful to see. We shouldn't be blind to these facts, it seems to me that too often we ignore these sort of issues in favour for our own disconnected narrative focused on anything but migration. Doesn't help that progressives are overwhelmingly educated, well off and safely insulated from the social tensions along identity lines which exist in the poorer parts of cities.
The progressive left has also had a role to play in propelling reactionairies on the conservative right. Some strands of postmodernism and its offshoots seem to have provided unlimited ammo for factionalism into myriads of diverse identity groups most often defined only by racial background or sexuality, and with it endless debates on power structures and inequality. It questions the idea of community and one can wonder what an 'equal' society would actually looks like - that unspoken goal is never concretely envisioned. It's a relentless assault on the way things are, most often without self reflection, that seemingly knows no end.
The reactionism isn't strange. First, these developments directly contradict the tenets of nationalism, oneness and communality many people are raised with or have grown up with. Second, for people who grow up in small towns (like I did) where everyone looks the same and where conservative values are still very much alive, there's an almost incomprehensible strangeness to the metropolitan debates on sexual, racial or gender inequality. Anger as well, as these small towns have usually suffered a lot economically due to globalisation and are overwhelmingly white people who feel they have been left behind. Half a year ago I visited my town for the first time in what must've been 15 years or more and it struck me how everything still looked the same, how small the houses were, and how poor and depressing the place looked. I didn't realise these things when I was a kid, but my perspective has changed. I felt relieved and lucky that I left and had ample success in my life, and felt sorry for those who didn't and who stayed behind.
Edit: might be a bit of a ramble, it's hard doing this on my phone.
I feel it's true that much of it stems from bigotry and all the worst parts of nationalism and entrenched identity politics, but it's more complicated as well. It's undeniable that the huge influx of low skilled immigration from specific regions has increased social tensions in terrible ways. We've constructed whole neighbourhoods home to middle eastern or north african immigrants on low wages, where crime statistics are higher and who live mostly in a parallel, separate cultural reality. The new residents might even bring with them practices, social norms or ties with the home country that are completely incompatible with western thinking. Despite being a progressive myself (it may be to uzi's surprise but I'm a registered and formerly active social liberal) it's painful to see. We shouldn't be blind to these facts, it seems to me that too often we ignore these sort of issues in favour for our own disconnected narrative focused on anything but migration. Doesn't help that progressives are overwhelmingly educated, well off and safely insulated from the social tensions along identity lines which exist in the poorer parts of cities.
The progressive left has also had a role to play in propelling reactionairies on the conservative right. Some strands of postmodernism and its offshoots seem to have provided unlimited ammo for factionalism into myriads of diverse identity groups most often defined only by racial background or sexuality, and with it endless debates on power structures and inequality. It questions the idea of community and one can wonder what an 'equal' society would actually looks like - that unspoken goal is never concretely envisioned. It's a relentless assault on the way things are, most often without self reflection, that seemingly knows no end.
The reactionism isn't strange. First, these developments directly contradict the tenets of nationalism, oneness and communality many people are raised with or have grown up with. Second, for people who grow up in small towns (like I did) where everyone looks the same and where conservative values are still very much alive, there's an almost incomprehensible strangeness to the metropolitan debates on sexual, racial or gender inequality. Anger as well, as these small towns have usually suffered a lot economically due to globalisation and are overwhelmingly white people who feel they have been left behind. Half a year ago I visited my town for the first time in what must've been 15 years or more and it struck me how everything still looked the same, how small the houses were, and how poor and depressing the place looked. I didn't realise these things when I was a kid, but my perspective has changed. I felt relieved and lucky that I left and had ample success in my life, and felt sorry for those who didn't and who stayed behind.
Edit: might be a bit of a ramble, it's hard doing this on my phone.
Last edited by Larssen (2020-02-12 03:58:04)
