Why liberalism and leftism are increasingly at odds

Abstract

Liberalism and leftism, once a unified progressive coalition, are increasingly at odds over issues such as Israel, free speech, and identity politics. The author argues that this divergence stems from the rise of “Social Justice Leftism” (SJL), a new ideology that focuses on identity politics, especially race, gender, and sexuality, and diverges from liberalism’s focus on individual rights and equality. The author contends that SJL’s totalizing approach to social issues and its restrictive views on free speech clash with the more nuanced and pluralistic tenets of liberalism. Moreover, the author highlights the recent conflict over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where SJL’s response to the Hamas attacks on Israel has further alienated liberal Jews who feel that their perspective is not adequately acknowledged or even understood by SJL. The author concludes that this growing divide between liberalism and leftism, fueled by SJL’s influence, threatens the traditional progressive coalition and could have significant consequences for American politics. – AI-generated abstract