Ideological warfare: The Clash of 2024 AD.
Arfa Ali Khan, G.I.T, CMILT (UK)
Geoscientist @ Kraken Robotics | Procurement/ Logistics, Customer Success
The views expressed in this article are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer or any organization with which I am affiliated. While I strive to provide accurate information, readers should verify any information or claims made in this article with appropriate sources.
In this article I aim to explore in detail where we stand in terms of the ideological landscape in the current day and age. With what has transpired in the past 5 centuries humanity has come a long way. However I feel today, that there is a regression in our moral fabric; a kind of duplicitous and hypocritical double standard when it comes to what the 'developed' world aspires to, and what the 'developing' world envisions as their goals and objectives. Before I go deeper into this topic I'd like to explain a couple of seemingly unrelated things for context:
Following the first of the two prefaced points above, I'd like to indicate that in more recent times, the dialectical technique has been embraced by various thinkers and movements, including Hegel, Marx, and critical theory, to dissect the inconsistencies and clashes in society, history, and culture. This approach frequently encompasses three phases: thesis, anti-thesis, and synthesis. The thesis represents a proposal or declaration that puts forth a particular perspective. The anti-thesis offers a counter-proposal or statement that opposes or questions the thesis. The synthesis constructs a fresh proposal or statement that harmonizes or surpasses both the thesis and antithesis, thereby achieving a more advanced truth or comprehension.
A dominant perspective today that is often referred to as the "liberal woke agenda," promotes a set of progressive principles focusing on diversity, inclusivity, social justice, environmental consciousness, and secularism. This agenda advocates for safeguarding the rights and interests of marginalized groups like women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people of color, immigrants, refugees, and indigenous populations. Furthermore, it supports the scientific consensus on climate change and the urgency of curbing greenhouse gas emissions. This ideology also endorses a secular lifestyle that respects the division between religious institutions and governance, ensuring freedom of conscience for all.
Nevertheless, the liberal woke agenda is not universally accepted. Opposition to it is growing among various factions, such as conservative politicians, religious fundamentalists, nationalist groups, and right-wing populists. These groups contest or dismiss the liberal woke agenda on various grounds, often arguing in favor of traditional values, national autonomy, economic interests, or cultural identity.
A prominent figure embodying this opposition is Vivek Ramaswamy, a contender for the 2024 US presidential race under the Republican banner. Ramaswamy, a 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur, has no prior experience in elected office. Born in Ohio to Indian immigrants, he graduated from Harvard University in biology and pursued further studies at Yale Law School. After working as a hedge fund analyst, he founded his own biotech company, Roivant Sciences, in 2014. Ramaswamy's campaign centers on combating what he terms "wokeness," characterizing it as a modern secular creed suppressing dissenting viewpoints under the guise of social justice. He contends that this ideology threatens democratic values and economic progress by imposing a dogmatic ideological stance on society.
Some of Ramaswamy's perspectives and proposals are considered contentious and unconventional. For instance, he advocates dismantling several federal agencies, including the FBI, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Education, deeming them redundant or inefficient. He also seeks to abolish affirmative action programs, arguing that they perpetuate discrimination and division. For context the concept of 'affirmative action' gained prominence within the United States during the 1960s as a means to advance equal opportunities across different sections of society. This policy emerged as a response to the enforcement of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a legislation aimed at counteracting the effects of past and ongoing discrimination, promote diversity, and create more equitable opportunities. For instance, affirmative action allows race based scholarship allocations in universities in the spirit of maintaining an equity when it comes to minorities. Vivek criticizes these race-based admissions as a “cancer on our national soul” and pledges to end them if elected president. He says that this policy fuels the racial biases in the society instead of what his contention is: all admissions should be on the basis of merit. In the spirit of implementing meritocracy and encouraging nationalism he says he would make constitutional amendments that would require voters between the ages of 18 and 24 to pass a civics test before they can cast a ballot, unless they have service in the military or as a first responder. Additionally, Vivek intends to cease US aid to Israel by 2028, asserting that the nation no longer requires such assistance and that US involvement in the Middle East is counterproductive. No one except Vivek in American history has come up with such a drastic visitation to their constitutional responsibilities and how these are to be implemented in the 21st century.
Another area of contention between the liberal woke agenda and the anti-woke stance is the role of the ESG (environmental, social, and governance) movement in the financial sector. The ESG movement urges companies to factor in non-financial elements in their decision-making processes. While proponents believe this promotes responsible investments, Ramaswamy contends that it is exploited by elites to allocate citizen funds in ways that may not align with their beliefs, representing a form of social engineering that infringes on individual and national sovereignty.
In addition, an aspect that distinguishes Vivek from his counterparts is his perspective on the dynamic between the United States and China. Liberals advocate for a more collaborative and positive interaction with China, emphasizing mutual respect, dialogue, and cooperation. They acknowledge China's substantial global role and its legitimate interests, emphasizing the necessity of joint efforts between the US and China in addressing shared challenges like climate change, trade relations, and security concerns. While they also endorse the human rights and democratic aspirations of regions influenced by China, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang, they aim to avoid provoking or aggravating tensions with China over these matters.
However, Ramaswamy holds an entirely different viewpoint regarding China. He perceives China as a strategic adversary and a peril to both the United States and the global community. He accuses China of participating in unjust trade practices, intellectual property theft, cyber assaults, human rights transgressions, military expansion, and ideological manipulation. His approach involves lessening the US's dependence on China for critical resources and services, such as technology, pharmaceuticals, and energy. He also intends to directly confront China's actions and policies concerning regions like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang. He asserts that the United States must take a resolute stance against China, safeguarding its values, alliances, and interests.
Ramaswamy's stance on China stands in clear opposition to the liberal foreign policy approach. He contends that liberals exhibit naivety and frailty in managing China, which in his view, compromises the sovereignty and security of the United States. He asserts that the US should adopt a more assertive and robust position towards China, rallying its allies and partners to counteract China's influence and aspirations. He maintains that his anti-woke agenda will serve to reestablish the US's authority and credibility on the global stage.
The divergence between the liberal woke agenda and the anti-woke stance on China serves as another instance highlighting the competition between these two ideologies for predominance within our society. The outcome of this rivalry could potentially hold substantial ramifications for the future of both our region and the world at large.
Ramaswamy's candidacy stands in stark contrast to the prevailing dominant ideas and challenges established political paradigms. It also challenges the conventional wisdom and expectations of both parties in American politics. Ramaswamy is neither a typical Republican nor a typical Democrat. He is neither a traditional conservative nor a moderate centrist. He is neither an establishment insider nor an outsider populist. He is something new and different: an anti-woke provocateur who appeals to a segment of voters who are dissatisfied with both sides of the political spectrum. His presence raises questions about how his viewpoints will resonate with the public, his performance in the elections, and his approach to governing a diverse nation. His stance on global matters also provokes curiosity about his international interactions and their implications.
This rising ideology can be seen as an antithesis to the liberal woke agenda, which is the thesis of our current times. The question is: what will come out as a synthesis once these two ideologies clash with each other? Will there be a compromise or a reconciliation that leads to a higher level of understanding or truth? Or will there be a conflict or a polarization that leads to a lower level of cooperation or trust? Or will it be a sinister and hidden agenda that serves the interests of a few at the expense of many? The answer may depend on how we use our reason and our dialogue to engage with each other in a systematic manner. Going back to the start of this article, it appears to me that the developing world is adhering to an antiquated liberal ideology. Concurrently, the developed world, particularly the US, is experiencing a resurgence of conservative values through recent political movements. It is high time that the developing world aligns itself with their own respective nationalistic affairs or I am afraid that very soon they will be overtaken by the over-arching proud hands of some very confident nations.
One possible factor that may influence the outcome of this dialectical process is the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in our society. Based on Vivek's plans for eliminating 75% of most bureaucratic functions within the government, I see AI potentially replacing this void and performing the functions that used to be performed by humans. This could have both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, AI could improve the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of government services and operations. It could also reduce costs, errors, and corruption. On the other hand, AI could also pose risks to privacy, accountability, and democracy. It could also create ethical, legal, and social dilemmas that require careful consideration and oversight.
AI backed by humans can also potentially create a new kind of infrastructure that spearheads the next phase of AI-based technologies that are proliferated eventually all over the world. While AI could enable innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving across borders and sectors, it could also create competition, conflict, and inequality among nations and groups. In a recent article it was revealed that a team set up a forecasting experiment, known as Synergistic Anticipation of Geopolitical Events (or SAGE for short), which is where laypeople work with AI-based tools to help them better predict the future.?The laypeople were successfully able to predict, for instance, that North Korea would launch its missile test. The SAGE-led collaboration was then entered into the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency (IARPA) Hybrid Forecasting Competition (HFC) to properly put it to the test against some of the best forecasters around. In short AI technology is now a propellant in the geopolitical scenarios being designed and concocted behind closed doors around the world. Therefore, AI is not only a tool but also a challenge for our society and politics in the 21st century.
In conclusion, we are living in interesting times where two opposing ideologies are vying for dominance in our society: the liberal woke agenda and the anti-woke agenda. These ideologies are represented by two contrasting candidates in the 2024 US presidential election: Vivek Ramaswamy and his rivals. The outcome of this election will have major implications for US and the world. The dialectical method can help us understand and evaluate these ideologies and their impacts on various issues and challenges that we face today. AI is one of these issues and challenges that can either help or hinder our progress towards a better future.
References:
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1 年Very insightful and comprehensive analysis of the current over-arching geopolitical landscape. Definitely would be interesting to see the role of AI in filling the void of/replacing the bureaucratic functions previously filled by humans and its implications for world politics. You indeed brought the two seemingly unrelated points together seamlessly! The dialectical approach is a great method to weigh arguments, but there are many moments where liberalism chips away at its own "right to free speech" by shutting down avenues for discussion, let alone outright anti-liberalist ideologies.
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1 年Great insight. Wonderful way of putting sense into a new wave of rising ideological human struggle in 21st. century's West.
Quality Control Officer @ CCBS | Master's in NanoScience & Engineering, Bachelor's in Physics-Nanotechnology, Quality Control Expert
1 年This article's explanations are exceptionally clear and well-presented plus a comprehensive masterpiece, skillfully navigating through present matters. A complex topic is explained with simplicity and clarity.