Susan Neiman, a prominent moral philosopher, critiques the conflation of “woke” ideology with leftism. She argues that while wokeism draws on traditionally left-wing emotions-empathy for the oppressed and historic injustice-it often abandons core Enlightenment principles like universalism, rational progress, and the distinction between justice and power. Instead, it promotes tribalism and purity culture, framing identities as competing social factions rather than interconnected human concerns. Neiman traces its roots to philosophers like Foucault and Schmitt, whose critiques of universal humanism inadvertently fuel a divisive, identity-centric outlook.
Neiman warns this pivot risks entrenching in-group/out-group mentalities, weakening coalitions for social justice, and playing into the hands of anti-democratic forces. She calls for a reinvigoration of left-wing politics anchored in Enlightenment ideals-affirming that universal human rights, moral reasoning, and faith in progress are not only compatible with but essential to meaningful political change. Her message is both a critique and a plea: to shift from culture-war symbolism to solidarity-driven action that addresses economic and political inequality collectively.