Ethnic Politics Conclusion - American Political Culture Since 2016

Michael Rossi
Department of Political Science
Program in International Relations
Long Island University Brooklyn
Spring 2021

The final lecture of the series, this video is really two parts in one:

The first part offers a review and a recap of the main elements covered in class including a review of the important topics of narrative and symbol; the application of collective and historical memory; the role of print capitalism; and how culture is used to shape group identities, preferences, beliefs, and values.

The second half of the lecture offers an assessment of contemporary American political culture since 2016 through an examination of three broad narratives: the tenuous restoration of the neoliberal status quo under President Biden; the persistent and growing appeal of the Great Backlash narrative of the Conservative Right; and the future of Sanders-era Progressives as the only possible emerging socio-political movement that can bridge the divide between Left and Right if socio-economic policies are emphasized over identity politics.

Works Cited:

Marc Howard Ross: 2007. Cultural Contestation in Ethnic Conflict. Cambridge University Press
“Culture’s Central Role in Ethnic Conflict”, pp. 312 – 328

Azad Essa: 2020. “Cornel West on US Protests: The Chickens Have Come Home to Roost”. Middle East Eye, June 16.

Theodore R. Johnson: 2020. “The Challenge of Black Patriotism”. The New York Times Magazine. November 18.

Matt Karp: 2020. “Bernie Sanders’ Five-Year War: How He Lost and Where We Go From Here”, Jacobin, August 28.

Chapter Markers:

00:00:00 - 00:04:54 - Introduction

Part I: A Final Recap of Class

00:04:54 - 00:10:56 - The Primacy of Culture in Political Science
00:10:56 - 00:15:25 - The Critical Importance of Narrative and Symbol
00:15:25 - 00:20:29 - Collective and Historical Memory
00:20:29 - 00:27:28 - Print Capitalism

Part II: The Interregnum - Five Years On

00:27:28 - 00:36:20 - America in the Interregnum in 2021
00:36:20 - 00:47:21 - Some Results We Didn't Expect in 2016
00:47:21 - 00:56:30 - A Final Set of Questions

Part III: Ethnic Politics and Cultural Identity in the Next 5 - 10 Years

00:56:30 - 01:02:02 - Some Starting Premises
01:02:02 - 01:11:25 - Social Media: The Weapon of the Weak
01:11:25 - 01:23:19 - From Social Media to Grassroots Activism
01:23:19 - 01:40:05 - The Struggle for Black Progressivism
01:40:05 - 01:56:20 - The (Not So) New Constructive Patriotism
01:56:20 - 02:07:11 - Can Progressivism Offer Inclusiveness?
02:07:11 - 02:16:44 - How to Reach Across the Divide?

Conclusion to Series

02:16:44 - 02:23:09 - What Have We Learned?

[parap]

Thanks so much for a wonderful series again, Professor Rossi. I look forward to the next one!

[Exposetheworld]

Such a great video! As someone who is just getting into IR and starting my master's this September the content you produce is such a blessing. The way you deliver and break information down is truly astounding.

[pleasedontdestroythiseither]

What is neoliberal centrist?
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