Evaluating We Have Never Been Woke, Part 1: Elite Overproduction
Evaluating the Arguments in “We Have Never Been Woke”
After delving into Musa al-Gharbi’s ideas in his book “We Have Never Been Woke,” it’s time to analyze and evaluate his arguments. In this post, I will start by discussing some of the broader concepts presented by al-Gharbi, such as the root cause of “Awokenings” and the motives behind the support for policies that may harm the less privileged.
Elite Overproduction
Al-Gharbi defines Awokenings as periods when symbolic capitalists attempt to co-opt social justice movements to maintain or elevate their own social standing. A crucial element in this phenomenon is “elite overproduction,” which suggests that there are more individuals aspiring to elite status than the actual capacity for elites in society.
The concept of elite overproduction holds merit. However, I would slightly tweak the framing to consider it a supply and demand issue for elites. The term “elite overproduction” may imply an excess supply, but in certain instances, such as the first Great Awokening, the collapse in the demand for elites played a significant role. The narrative of obtaining a college degree as a pathway to success has led to a saturation of graduates facing limited job opportunities and mounting student debt.
This situation was evident during movements like Occupy Wall Street, where disillusioned college-educated individuals expressed frustration at the mismatch between their expectations and reality. The narrative of higher education as a guarantor of prosperity has been disrupted, leaving many graduates feeling uncertain about their future.
While al-Gharbi primarily focuses on the United States, Awokenings have occurred globally, characterized by affluent, educated elites driving these movements. Martin Gurri’s observations in “The Revolt of the Public” align with al-Gharbi’s analysis, highlighting the privileged nature of these movements across different countries.
The involvement of predominantly upper-middle-class, educated individuals in social justice activism underscores the notion of elite overproduction. These elites or aspirants often grapple with insecurities about their societal status, contributing to their active participation in such movements.
Next, we will explore how conventional theories of incentives and political alliances can shed light on al-Gharbi’s discourse.
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