Norsk Venstreside Må Lære av Amerikanske Kulturkriger for å Unngå Woke Fallgruver

Comments express the writer’s opinions.

It is crucial for the Norwegian left to learn from the American culture war to avoid the pitfalls of “woke” politics.

Hillary Clinton wrote a book titled What Happened. In it, she discusses her loss to Trump. Conservative professor Matthew Goodwin found it amusing, believing she still does not understand the reasons behind her defeat.

This feeling resurfaces when reading some explanations for the recent American election.

Audun Lysbakken claims the economy was the main reason for Trump’s victory. While this is partly true, his comments downplay the importance of the culture war, a trend seen in the Norwegian left.

The Importance of the Culture War

Indeed, the left in American politics amplified this war, especially from 2013 to 2014, emerging strongly from universities. It was clear that Trump might not have won in 2016 without the backdrop of this culture conflict.

People agreed that the economy mattered, but the focus should be on cultural activist issues. Post-election, the term “woke” has been mentioned repeatedly, more than in the last four years combined.

Critics of activism do not have to look far and do not need to shift to the far right to find valid viewpoints against it.

Identity Politics as a Trap for Democrats

This observation is understandable. Democratic politician Seth Moulton voted last year against barring transgender girls from girls’ sports. Now, he worries for his daughters, suggesting he did not voice his concerns earlier.

Moulton believes Democrats have leaned too heavily into identity politics, enabling Trump’s rise. His campaign director resigned in protest over his recent comments, emphasizing that many Americans express more hatred towards immigrants and transgender individuals than fear of fascism.

Fears of Woke Activism

Ezra Klein, a left-leaning media figure, recently discussed similar concerns in the podcast Pod Save America. They questioned how Joe Rogan, previously aligned with the left, became alienated due to woke activism and condemnation.

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd also addresses unpopular progressive identity politics as a reason for Democratic loss. Furthermore, Bret Stephens notes that Democrats were strategically outplayed by Trump, focusing on inflated issues rather than economics.

Recently, Joe Scarborough revealed that his Democratic friends complain their children fear expressing opinions in college due to woke activists’ potential backlash.

This follows a detailed investigation by the New York Times about negative impacts from excessive anti-racist initiatives at universities in Michigan. Even New York Mayor Eric Adams criticizes the extreme rhetoric from the American left, highlighting misguided approaches to immigration.

A Voting Disaster

Numerous analyses echo these sentiments. Former Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, Trump critic Bill Maher, and philosopher Sam Harris have criticized Democratic wokeness.

This activism has intruded into daily life—sports, organizations, workplaces, schools, and even preschools. Many examples could illustrate the absurdity of this issue, but they often go unnoticed by figures like Lysbakken.

Lysbakken references strategist James Carville’s slogan “It’s the economy, Stupid” to justify his focus on economic issues. However, this slogan is outdated. Carville has been critical of the extreme progressive activism since Democrats lost the Virginia gubernatorial election. He insists that the left needs to abandon “woke” politics.

Norwegian Left Must Understand This

Notably, Van Jones expresses frustration, admitting he has never met a “LatinX.” This term epitomizes the absurdity of such activism, as many in the Latino community reject it, yet progressives insist on its use.

As elections approach, many Latinos are voting for Trump, marking a historic shift. Data shows a significant number of non-white voters are supporting Trump.

These instances highlight ongoing trends since the election.

It is vital for the Norwegian left to grasp these dynamics. Without this understanding, they cannot explain why men and boys are increasingly shifting to the right, even as right-wing parties gain among women as well.

Ignoring this reality will likely lead to continued declines for parties like the Labour Party.