Thread by @docrussjackson

A #THREAD on the UK @Conservatives' & US Republicans' mobilisation of “woke” as a pejorative term to describe progressive policies in general, & how the Left should respond.

Increasingly, everything the right-wing don’t like is described as woke - a scapegoat for any bad news.

This #THREAD is based on two recent articles by Gil Duran & George Lakoff, the American cognitive linguist & philosopher, best known for his 'framing' thesis that people's lives are significantly influenced by the conceptual metaphors they use to explain complex phenomena.

To 'frame' something is "to select some aspects of a perceived reality & make them more salient in a communication text, in such a way as to promote a particular problem definition, causal interpretation, moral evaluation, and/or treatment recommendation for the item described."

The basic argument is that as the @Conservatives & Republicans *themselves* adopt increasingly radical (illiberal, antidemocratic, & authoritarian) policies & rhetoric, they relentlessly frame progressives & the Left as the true radical menace in an act of strategic misdirection.

Despite the rapid adoption of woke as a major frame in right-wing discourse, it lacks a set definition. This presents some issues, for example, as the word 'woke' lacks a universal meaning, why are so many people using it, & why do so many on the Left embrace it?

Woke provides a great example of how the framing wars usually play out in UK & US politics. @Conservatives & Republicans frame an issue, choosing specific words, then everyone else falls into the trap by accepting the frame without giving much thought to the underlying strategy.

The strategy nearly always works to further Tory & Republican political interests by framing political arguments to suit a conservative version of morality.

The differences in understanding & use of the term 'woke' in the UK & US are interesting & quite pronounced.

In the UK, 57% of people claim to know what 'woke' means, but just 23% say they use it to describe a set of beliefs, or a group of people with a set of beliefs.

Among those who use the term, 73% use it as a pejorative, & just 11% use it approvingly.

yougov.co.uk/topics/politic…

Contrastingly, in the US, 56% of Americans have a positive definition of woke. A majority defined woke as being “informed, educated on & aware of social injustice.”

Only 39% understand woke as “to be overly politically correct & police others’ words.”

ipsos.com/en-us/american…

Essentially, this means that in the UK, unlike the US, the deployment of the word 'woke' is more widely understood, & much more often than not mobilised as, a pejorative.

While some argue it should be embraced & more often by UK progressives, this may be a mistake.

“Though the term originated in the Black community, woke now lacks a standard definition, & is sometimes used as a catchall label for a group of only loosely related ideas,” wrote Olga Khazan in The Atlantic in 2021.

theatlantic.com/politics/archi…

“People often use the term to describe neologisms that are more popular among progressives, such as 'pregnant people', as well as policy choices advocated for by some on the left, such as defunding the police.”

However, many on the Left & wince at phrases like 'pregnant people'.

In the US, polling found little support for some of the radical ideas associated with the word 'woke' eg only 10% of people polled agreed with the idea of using the term “pregnant people” instead of “women”. And only 18% expressed support for defunding police.

'Woke', then, seemingly entails the adoption of unquestionably radical ideas or language, but with which, most progressives often disagree.

Of course, the fact that progressives often disagree with many of these ideas does not prevent the Right from labeling them as woke.

For the most part, woke appears to be little more than a replacement for “politically correct,” a word used in a similar way in 1990s UK & US, meaning “conforming to a belief that language & practices which offends political sensibilities (eg sex or race) should be eliminated.”

Oxford Languages defines 'PC' as “conforming to prevailing liberal or radical opinion, in particular by carefully avoiding forms of expression or action perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against.”

In the 1980s, the once-niche philosophical & linguistic idea that words may have more consequences than we previously thought, began to permeate academia - a broad idea that the habitual use of particular words not only described the world, but *framed* it in particular ways.

'Framing' results in thinking about & understanding the world in particular ways, which in turn gives rise to attitudes & behaviours. This idea became more widely accepted, & British society was persuaded not to use grotesquely prejudiced pejoratives to describe people.

The words ‘ni**er’, ‘chin*y’, p*ki’, ‘bu**er’ & ‘b*tch’ largely disappeared, & this coincided with British society making significant steps towards a more civilised, tolerant and humane society.

I discuss this process in more detail in this article:

yorkshirebylines.co.uk/politics/whats…

Definitions of 'political correctness' involve two key elements: (1) *conformity* — to beliefs about the power of language; & (2) the idea of *sensitivity* — specifically, political sensitivity around issues of sex or race.

The Oxford definition also contains a third element, that of “liberal or radical” opinion.

When you examine these elements in depth, it becomes quite clear that woke is simply a modern rebranding of political correctness.

Conformity — “compliance with rules, standards or laws” — can be a good thing, as in conformity to the law. But for the most part, it has a negative connotation. To conform is to behave as a sheep, mindlessly going with the flow in order to avoid trouble.

Everyone knows that authoritarian regimes enforce 'conformity', requiring people to take loyalty oaths or feign allegiance to oppressive or ridiculous rules.

The same can be said of religious movements or cults, which require strict adherence to certain beliefs or rules.

The idea of conformity — specifically, enforced or required conformity — is understandably unappealing to most people in democratic societies.

Considering the second element, 'political sensitivity', we find that as with 'awareness', sensitivity is generally a positive trait. Sensitivity requires care, empathy & intelligence. We try to be sensitive to the feelings & needs of those around us eg our families & friends.

In politics, we cultivate sensitivity to the needs of other citizens. This has allowed us to evolve through many ugly chapters of history & toward a fuller definition of freedom.

However, there is also the possibility of being overly sensitive, which the 'anti-woke' accentuate.

Being 'PC' or 'woke' also connotes radicalism - to be radical is to be outside of the mainstream or majority, & in this context, the word 'radical' has a negative connotation.

Of course, radicalism can produce good things as well as bad.

Movements deemed radical or subversive have often brought forth great social progress. But on the flip side, some radical movements devolve into violence or terrorism, as with the West-German "Baader-Meinhof" group, or the violent pro-Trump January 6th insurrectionists.

In its most negative political sense, radicalism entails a tyrannical minority forcing its beliefs onto the majority through intimidation, anti-democratic rule or violence.

For 'anti-woke' critics, both woke & PC carry these negative connotations of radicalism.

By isolating these three distinct elements - conformity, sensitivity, & radicalism - we can get a clearer picture of the political meanings underlying the use of woke. For @Conservatives & Republicans, woke means 'a forced conformity to radical liberal political sensitivity'.

However, the trick is that the Right purposely conflates the word 'woke' with progressive/Left policies & politicians in general. For example, both Keir Starmer & Joe Biden are regularly labeled as woke, even though they're mainstream politicians usually described as moderate.

What they’re really doing is using woke as a dog whistle to unite the Right's voter base in opposition to social progress related to race, gender & sexuality: woke is used as a kind of anti-virtue signal to broadcast their support for discriminatory & regressive social policies.

Their use of woke as a scare word that applies to all left-leaning people/progressives, even Biden, is an example of a “salient exemplar” strategy: using an extreme example to unfairly smear an entire group, even if the group often overtly rejects extreme or radical behaviour.

For the Right, to be woke is to have an awareness of the moral nature of current events from a liberal perspective. The war on woke continues the long conflict between the two main political moral systems: strict father (conservative) morality vs nurturing (progressive) morality.

Meanwhile, some on the Left also use 'woke' as a pejorative, more specifically to describe what they perceive as a certain kind of bullying or disruptive radical progressive political behaviour.

But the truth is, radical politics are hardly confined to the progressive Left.

In fact, Conservatives & Republicans have their own version of 'woke' politics — one that poses a rising danger to democracy. Yet they embrace their own versions of radicalism & wokeness.

Their own RADICAL ideology insists on CONFORMITY, & cultural SENSITIVITY to certain issues.

While @Conservatives, Republicans, & right-wing media are busy decrying “woke” politics (defined broadly as a 'radical intolerant ideology, sensitive to certain cultural issues, whose supporters demand conformity) they are effectively embracing their own versions of wokeness.

Both the UK @Conservatives, & the US Republicans, along with their ideologically aligned right-wing media (specifically the billionaire-funded Fox News & the multimillionaire-funded GB news) fully embrace their own brand of radical politics which reflect their 'moral' beliefs.

For example, US Republican leaders have been fully engaged in the radical politics of election denial, vaccine denial, & unprecedented efforts to strip away the rights & freedoms of women, people of colour, & the LGBT people.

Similarly, in the UK many @Conservatives have been engaged in the radical politics of making it harder for poorer people to vote, anti-lockdowns, the scapegoating of asylum seekers, & unprecedented efforts to strip away human rights & freedoms such as rights to protest & strike.

In the US, while condemning “ideological conformity,” DeSantis has simultaneously made it easier to ban books, & has limited the discussion of history, race, gender identity, & sexuality in schools.

Last year, DeSantis signed the Stop Woke Act, which “prohibits in-school discussions about racism, oppression, LBGTQ+ issues & economic inequity”, & in the UK in 2020, the @Conservatives
outlawed teaching opposition to capitalism.

theconversation.com/anticapitalism…

This are unquestionably examples of ideologically extreme 'radical politics'.

It’s also clearly an effort to enforce, rather than prevent, 'ideological conformity' — specifically, ideological conformity to a strict conservative moral worldview.

Politicians like Braverman & DeSantis accuse others of 'embracing radicalism' while they openly embrace conservative radicalism.

This kind of ideologically extreme radical politics is arguably far more divisive & dangerous than any other significant forces in the UK & US today.

Human-made climate change denial & the banning of opposition to capitalism in schools is barely mentioned by right-wing politicians or the right-wing media, & @Conservatives & Republicans, experts at distraction, prefer to focus debate on issues like gender pronouns & drag shows.

While much more common in the US, & currently mainly existing on the fringes of right-wing radical ideology in the UK, there’s even a word that describes the right-wing version of woke: 'Red-pilled', taken from the movie The Matrix.

Neo, played by Keanu Reeves, must choose between a red pill or a blue pill. The red pill will awaken him to the true nature of reality, in which nothing is as it seems. The blue pill will allow his character, Neo, to remain blissfully asleep & unaware. He takes the red pill.

'Red-pilled' has become shorthand for the process of converting to a reactionary & conspiracy-tinged right-wing view of the world.

In 2020, Elon Musk, who has been going through a very public meltdown into reactionary politics, urged his Twitter followers to “take the red pill.”

Increasingly, the core of the right-wing UK @Conservatives' & especially the US Republican's voter/support base, celebrates & encourages conservative versions of wokeness/radicalism.

Fox News in the US, TalkTV & GB News in the UK, & other ideologically extreme propaganda outlets churn out a constant stream of misinformation, extremist framing, & 'disreality' to keep their audiences “awake” to a range of largely imaginary grievances & threats.

Just look at the rise of #QAnon on both sides of the Atlantic: an outlandish & thoroughly debunked anti-government conspiracy theory.

The Republican base in particular has become an extreme radical movement, increasingly prone to violence, & lacking in commitment to democracy.

US Republicans & UK @Conservatives LOVE radicalism — as long as it’s a version that serves their interests & belief system.

It’s no accident that, at a time of rising Tory & Republican radicalism, they are busy framing Labour & the Democratic Party as the 'real' radical menace.

Such misdirection serves an important strategic purpose.

First, it distracts from the true threat to democracy, which is the increasingly antidemocratic & authoritarian radicalism of the @Conservatives & Republic Parties, & fringe Parties such as Richard Tice's Reform Party.

Second, this misdirection is a classic example of the centuries old & effective political strategy of 'divide & rule': 'woke' rhetoric divides progressive voters, stokes internal conflicts, & weakens the ability of progressives to unite in opposition to the radical Right threat.

Finally, it motivates the radical Right base by conflating the most ridiculous examples of radical progressive politics with progressive politics in general, forcing the right-wing base to view even mainstream centrist/left-leaning Parties, media, & ideas as existential threats.

Yet today’s @Conservatives & Republican Parties thrives on radicalism. This hypocrisy is a feature, not a bug. In the Conservative/Republican worldview, anything that serves their interests is good, & anything that serves opposition Parties' interests is bad.

Once you understand this, you will be less confused about all the apparent contradictions in what @Conservatives & Republicans say & do.

Since woke lacks a set definition, progressive people & parties should avoid falling into the radical Right's trap, & avoid using the term.

Instead, we must do a much better job of more precisely defining any critique of disruptive & divisive behaviour on the part of any & all radically-oriented groups. Why? Because radical movements on both sides of the political spectrum share some negative & harmful traits.

Some radical movements on both Right AND Left demand full acceptance of ridiculous ideas that tend to repel the mainstream; they both ostracize or stigmatize or “cancel” those deemed uncooperative or unworthy; they both adopt tactics & strategies that divide rather than unite.

Some radical movements on both Right AND Left become obsessed with 'purity tests', demanding full conformity to their beliefs & ideas.

They are both, in many ways, best defined by a radical intolerance for anything or anyone that resists or opposes their minoritarian zeal.

Those of you who follow me will know I support political policies considered by many to be 'ideologically extreme' & 'radical'. However, I can't think of *any* that aren't currently considered perfectly normal & 'centrist' in many European & especially Scandinavian countries.

We must use precise language to push back against some of the behaviour & rhetoric of some progressive radical movements & individuals, & we must all examine our own role in fueling division & making unreasonable demands for conformity from those we disagree with politically.

I do appreciate how frustrating UK (& US) politics is at the moment, & I'm fully aware of the fragile & vulnerable state of our democracies, & of the rising tide of scapegoating rhetoric & the grotesquely unequal distribution of wealth & opportunity on both sides of the Atlantic.

On the progressive side, we must find a way to clearly express how divisive antics weaken the democratic cause at a time when the Right have made clear their authoritarian intentions.

Difficult as it is (especially on social media platforms like this) imho we must try to do this using language that does not empower the @Conservatives' & Republican's war against democracy, social justice, & our progressive moral vision of fairer & more open & tolerant society.

'Woke', with its associated smear of all progressive policies (in the tradition of other conservative attack terms like communist, socialist, globalist, cosmopolitan/metropolitan elite & PC) is best avoided by anyone who does not plan to vote for right-wingers at the next GE.

We must reframe to focus on the real threat: right-wing extremism & radicalism. While the behaviours of some progressives may warrant critique, they cannot be equated to the rising attitude of authoritarian, antidemocratic, anti-human rights minority-scapegoating of the Right.

The fact that we see so much focus on wokeness is a testament to the @Conservatives' & Republicans’ ability to frame debate. Through the creative appropriation of language & constant repetition, they excel at getting their message out & imposing their moral worldview on everyone.

This #THREAD has adapted but quotes extensively from two recent excellent articles by Gil Duran & @GeorgeLakoff, published through #FrameLab - "a newsletter about politics, language & your brain".

Links to the two articles in the next few tweets.

framelab.substack.com

The first article - Part ONE of a multipart analysis of the most popular weapon word in American (& British) politics: 'Time to Get Woke About Woke.'

framelab.substack.com/p/time-to-get-…

The second article - Part TWO of a multipart analysis of the newest Republican (& Conservative) weapon word: 'Redpilled, QAnon, Anti-Vaccine: Conservative versions of 'woke'.'

framelab.substack.com/p/redpilled-qa…