The Democrats Can’t Just Laugh Off ‘Woke 1’

The recent comments from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have reignited a debate about the state of progressive politics within the Democratic Party. Her attempts to downplay and even dismiss some of the most radical stances taken by her party in the past decade are telling, but also symptomatic of a larger issue: the reluctance among many Democrats to confront their own extremism.

The “woke” movement has had a profound impact on Democratic politics over the past decade. Its emphasis on systemic oppression and radical policies is evident in everything from the Democratic Party’s platform to the way companies and institutions respond to social justice issues. However, as Ocasio-Cortez’s comments suggest, even some of the most progressive Democrats are starting to realize that this particular brand of activism has become a liability.

The Problem with Woke 1

The “woke” movement reached its peak in 2020, when millions took to the streets to protest police killings of Black people. Since then, it’s become clear that many of the ideas and policies associated with this movement have been tested by reality and found wanting. Cities that cut police spending saw a spike in murders, while elite universities struggled to address campus anti-Semitism.

Despite these failures, however, many Democrats seem to be counting on the public forgetting about these excesses without their needing to repudiate the most radical aspects of the “woke” movement. This is a strategy that could fail: Republicans have already made anti-wokeness a core tenet of their party’s platform.

The Democratic Party’s Problem with Identity Politics

Identity politics has taken hold within the party, and this has contributed to Democrats’ reluctance to confront their own extremism. Candidates aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America continue to take radical positions, such as advocating for decriminalizing illegal border crossing and opposing the existence of a police and prison system. Even if these candidates don’t win the primary, their presence ensures that the Democratic Party’s platform remains committed to some of the most unpopular aspects of the “woke” movement.

The Risk of Resurgence

The unwillingness among Democrats to confront their own extremism may result in the resurgence of wokeness later on. This could have disastrous consequences for the party: as we’ve seen, Republicans are eager to capitalize on Democratic vulnerabilities and have already begun using issues like trans women’s participation in sports to divide voters.

For the Democratic Party to move forward, it needs to confront its own extremism head-on. This means having a serious conversation about the impact of identity politics and the way radical policies have failed to deliver results on the ground. It also requires Democrats to be more willing to take unpopular positions and defend them against Republican attacks.

Ultimately, however, it’s not just up to Democrats to fix this problem: Republicans need to be held accountable for their own brand of extremism. We need a politics that rewards nuance and compromise over ideology-driven posturing. Anything less will only ensure that the Democratic Party’s hangover from the “woke” movement continues on indefinitely.

The clock is ticking, but it’s not too late for Democrats to change course. They just need to start by facing their own failures – and those of their party – head-on.