Dealignment of the Faithful?
It’s tempting to see America’s declining religiosity as nothing but good news for the Democrats. The real picture is more complicated.
18 Articles by: Jared Abbott
Jared Abbott is a researcher at the Center for Working-Class Politics and a contributor to Jacobin and Catalyst: A Journal of Theory and Strategy.
Can Democrats Reverse the Neoliberal Era’s Dealignment?
A new study clearly shows that Democratic candidates aren’t embracing progressive economic demands. Is it any wonder why more and more working-class people are tuning these politicians out?
Debating Class Dealignment
Class dealignment posits that Democrats have been losing working-class voters in favor of middle- and upper-class voters. Is this actually happening? And to what extent is it a problem?
Why We Need Union Halls in Every Town
Lainey Newman and Theda Skocpol’s Rust Belt Union Blues makes a compelling case that left-wing success in the rust belt depends on reviving the presence and stature of unions — and the sense of social connection they offer — in local communities.
Just How Bad Were UN Sanctions Against Iraq?
The impact of UN sanctions on Iraq has been difficult to quantify — and that’s part of the problem.
Is QAnon Destroying American Democracy?
Conspiracy theories are common and dangerous, but they probably can’t explain why Americans don’t trust the government.
A Populism of the Left Can Realign American Politics
It’s clear that the GOP is capturing new parts of the working class. It’ll take credible appeals to workers’ frustrations and economic interests to win them back.
Inflation: Friend or Foe of the Left?
Across the world, inflation doesn’t necessarily stop the Left from winning elections, but it severely limits what leftists can do once in office.
We Don’t Need Another New Progressive Organization
Everyone on the Left wants a more coherent, effective movement. But we’ll get there by devising creative new strategies for building our working-class base, not by launching yet another national progressive organization.
Rebuilding the Working-Class Base One Door at a Time
Reinvigorating class-based politics in the US depends on more than inspiring candidates like Bernie Sanders: it requires durable working-class political organization. Here’s what one group learned about organizing working people around bread-and-butter issues.
American Exceptionalism Off the Rails
Why the United States spends so much but gets so little public transit.
Left-Wing Populism Can Win in Trump-Voting Areas, Too
Progressives write off Republican-leaning counties across America to their own detriment. With working-class candidates, populist messaging, and effective organization, we can make major inroads in “Trump country” that will pay dividends for years to come.
The Coming Democratic Minority
Without a radical change in its relationship to working-class voters, the Democratic Party is hurtling toward doom.
The Left Needs More Than Low-Hanging Fruit to Win Power
To win universal social programs and pro-working-class politics in America, the Left needs to win outside of traditional Democratic strongholds. And that means having the message and organizing that can capture the attention of millions.
Have Democrats Learned Anything?
The Democrats managed to win last November’s presidential election, but what about the next one? Given the party’s dependence on white suburban voters and the threat of resurgent Trumpism, they will most likely double down on their risk-averse 2020 strategy. That will only mean inviting further working-class defections.
The Two Paths of Democratic Socialism: Coalition and Confrontation
After Bernie Sanders, democratic socialists in America face a vital strategic dilemma. Do we go the Justice Democrats route of winning gains as the junior partner in a progressive coalition, or do we take a gamble on more independent class organization and struggle?
Blueprint for a Political Revolution
If we’re going to change the United States, socialists will have to win the working class. And we urgently need a strategy and an organization to do just that.
“Escalation Could Lead to a Catastrophic Outcome”
For Venezuela, the worst-case scenario of a US military intervention remains a potent threat. A long-time advisor to Hugo Chavez offers his thoughts on the country’s crisis.