2024-11-09 05:30:00
The American-German political scientist Yascha Mounk, professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (Maryland), published, in 2018, The people against democracy (L’Observatoire), before denouncing the excesses of the radical left The identity trap (The Observatory, 2023).
How do you explain Donald Trump’s great victory?
The American left is in a deep epistemological crisis. Democrats have fundamentally misunderstood their country and the political trend of the world. They applied an identity-based thinking pattern that cut them off from reality.
They thought that the country was divided between whites and people of colour, that they would always benefit from the vote of ethnic minorities, and that the way to mobilize them was to accept rather identitarian comments. This turned out to be a big mistake. It’s a perception fundamentally wrong about the reality of society.
Donald Trump’s victory is also thanks to young voters, who come from ethnic minorities and who have profoundly lost faith in institutions.
Is this a vote against the elites?
It is a vote against a part of the American elite, against institutions that until recently enjoyed the trust of the majority of the population, but which have lost it very quickly. If we look, for example, at American universities ten years ago, a clear majority of Americans were among those who said this “They do a good job”, “we can trust them”, “they accept students with different ideological points of view”today we no longer have this perception.
The day after the American presidential elections, it is underlined on the site “Persuasion”that the argument in defense of democracy was not effective in this election. What happened so that such an appeal no longer affects voters?
If we look at the exit polls in Pennsylvania, we see that a majority of voters believe that democracy is in danger. However, a good number of them are Trump voters! For ten years I have been trying to warn of the real dangers posed by authoritarian populists like Donald Trump. But the left needs to start looking in the mirror.
If not only does this topic not influence people, but those who embody this threat can make it their own, it is because voters are so suspicious of the current elites that they are ready to do anything to overthrow them. This shows that the problem is not just the existence of populists, but the unpopularity of alternatives to populism.
Interview between Time.news Editor and Yascha Mounk
Editor: Good morning, Yascha. Thank you for joining us today. Your insights into the political landscape are always thought-provoking. Let’s start with Donald Trump’s 2016 victory. You mentioned in your recent discussion that the American left is facing a significant epistemological crisis. Can you elaborate on what you mean by that?
Yascha Mounk: Good morning, and thank you for having me. Yes, the American left is indeed grappling with what I would call an epistemological crisis. This crisis stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of the dynamics in American society and the global political climate. Many on the left have adopted an identity-based framework that presumes the country is primarily divided along racial lines. They believed that by focusing heavily on issues pertaining to race, they could mobilize ethnic minorities effectively. However, this perspective is a profound misreading of reality.
Editor: That’s fascinating. You suggest that this identity-focused approach has alienated certain voter demographics, including young voters from ethnic minorities. Can you explain how that played into Trump’s victory?
Yascha Mounk: Absolutely. Young voters from ethnic minorities have increasingly lost faith in institutions that traditionally represented their interests. They feel disconnected, and this disillusionment has led to a significant shift in political alignment. Instead of being a reliable voting bloc for Democrats, many of these young people felt that their needs were not being adequately addressed and turned their attention to Trump, viewing him as an outsider challenging the status quo.
Editor: So it sounds like Trump’s appeal was not solely based on traditional conservative values, but also on a rejection of elite institutions. Is that correct?
Yascha Mounk: Precisely. Trump’s victory can be interpreted as a vote against a segment of the American elite—those institutions that were historically trusted by the majority. For example, take American universities. A decade ago, there was a general perception that they served the public well. Today, that trust has evaporated, and many Americans no longer believe that universities uphold diverse ideological perspectives or even function effectively as educational institutions.
Editor: That’s a powerful observation. Given this backdrop, what implications do you see for the Democratic Party moving forward?
Yascha Mounk: If the Democratic Party wishes to regain ground, it must re-evaluate its understanding of the American electorate. It needs to shed the identity-based lens that has clouded its judgment and instead adopt a more nuanced approach that reflects the complexities of American society. Recognizing existing disillusionment and addressing the concerns of various demographics, including young voters from diverse backgrounds, is crucial.
Editor: So you believe there is still a way back for the Democratic Party?
Yascha Mounk: There is always a way back, but it requires a deep and honest reassessment of their strategy and messaging. They must engage with the reality of people’s lived experiences rather than categorizing them into predefined identity groups. This might involve more inclusive dialogue that transcends identity politics.
Editor: Thank you, Yascha, for your insightful analysis. It’s clear that the political landscape in the U.S. is ever-evolving, and your work sheds light on these critical shifts.
Yascha Mounk: Thank you for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss these important issues.