Norman Finkelstein’s lifelong rebellion and new war on woke | The InnerView
TRT World・2 minutes read
Norman Finkelstein, a left-wing activist and academic, criticizes identity politics and "wokeness," highlighting the negative impact of "cancel culture." He denounces the co-optation of grassroots movements by the ruling elite and emphasizes the exclusion of class issues in contemporary political discourse.
Insights
- Norman Finkelstein underwent a significant ideological shift, moving away from the Palestinian cause towards critiquing identity politics and the negative impacts of "cancel culture" and "wokeness."
- Finkelstein criticizes the co-optation of identity politics by the Democratic Party and media, highlighting how it often excludes class issues, serving to maintain elites' privilege and hinder grassroots movements like Black Lives Matter.
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Recent questions
Who is Norman Finkelstein?
Activist and academic critical of Israel.
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Summary
00:00
Finkelstein critiques identity politics in leftist movements.
- Norman Finkelstein, a left-wing activist and academic, is a son of Holocaust survivors and a critic of Israel.
- Finkelstein was once a prominent figure in the Palestinian cause but diverged when the movement's strategy changed.
- His focus now is on identity politics, evident in his latest book critiquing "wokeness."
- Finkelstein highlights the shift in his views due to the negative impact of "cancel culture" and "woke" movements.
- He discusses the Bernie Sanders phenomenon as a class-based political insurgency during the 2016 and 2020 Democratic primaries.
- Finkelstein criticizes the leftists and progressives who attacked Sanders, revealing the pernicious nature of identity politics.
- Identity politics, according to Finkelstein, has been co-opted by the Democratic Party and influential media outlets.
- Finkelstein emphasizes that identity politics often excludes class issues, serving the elites without challenging their privilege.
- He delves into the co-optation of grassroots movements like Black Lives Matter by the ruling elite through financial incentives.
- Finkelstein reflects on his personal sacrifices as a leftist, emphasizing the traditional ethos of self-sacrifice for the cause.
23:38
Finkelstein critiques BDS and wokeness trends.
- Professor Norman Finkelstein reflects on his discomfort with his position, eventually denouncing the BDS movement and wokeness for hindering rather than aiding their causes, drawing on his experiences of societal value shifts from the 1960s and 70s to emphasize his stance.
