Michael Rectenwald is a former professor of Liberal Studies at New York University (NYU) between 2008 and 2019, and has written many books, most recently, Thought Criminal.
Professor Rectenwald is a pundit and champion of free speech and opposes all forms of authoritarianism and totalitarianism, including socialism-communism, “social justice,” fascism, political correctness, and “woke” ideology.
Wokeness tends to identify people based on their race or gender (or another general attribute), reducing complex individuals to mere representatives of the said attribute. Such an approach undermines the principle of individuality and perpetuates a divisive and reductive view of society.
It also promotes a binary and adversarial perspective on relations, framing the world solely through the lens of oppressor and oppressed. Such an approach breeds animosity and division, hindering constructive dialogue and collaboration.
Wokeness celebrates victimhood culture.
Illiberalism refers to a political ideology or system that deviates from the principles of classical liberalism.
Classical liberalism emphasises individual rights, freedom, and limited government intervention, while illiberalism disregards democratic norms, promotes a concentration of power, and enjoys restricting civil liberties and political pluralism.
It also promotes authoritarianism.
