Canadian professor and renowned author Eric Kaufmann has released his highly anticipated new book, The Third Awokening.
Professor Kaufmann, who was appointed as a professor of politics at the prestigious University of Buckingham in October 2023 after being hounded out of his previous role at Birkbeck, University of London, released his latest work on May 13, 2024, following the success of Whiteshift: Populism, Immigration and the Future of White Majorities.
In The Third Awokening, Kaufmann argues that progressive illiberalism and deculturation was powered by well-meaning liberals, rather than post-Marxist radicals. He claims that the Woke movement is a cultural revolution which can only be stopped by “drastic intervention” throughout institutions and culture.
The “Third Awokening” refers to the third wave of cultural-left ideological enthusiasm, each more damning than the last. Kaufmann argues that this has led to a crime wave, a worsening education system, an uncontrolled border and greater social division than ever before.
Kaufmann notes the growing discontent among young people towards conservative speech, highlighting that this demographic will be the median voters and employee in the not-too-distant future. Furthermore, the 54-year-old points to the differences between Woke cultural socialism and classical liberalism, showcasing how modern Left-liberalism focuses on a “majorities bad, minorities good” philosophy. This, Kaufmann argues, is powered by “liberal” emotional attachments rather than principles, thus underpinning a moral panic among White males across the West.
Claiming that today’s Woke extremism is a perverse extension of liberalism, Professor Kaufmann argues that the way to “break the grip of Wokeness in our institutions and schools” is through constitutional, government power. By doing so, society can steer tomorrow’s electorate towards neutrality and classical liberalism.
For this to be possible, the conservative and moderate majority must focus on culture and “spare no effort to win the battle of ideas”. Alas, Kaufmann presents a twelve-point plan for rolling back progressive extremism, which is detailed throughout The Third Awokening.
“We are in a cultural emergency,” said Kaufmann in launching the book. “The demise of Woke is greatly exaggerated; young people are much more Woke than their elders, and will be tomorrow’s median voter and institutional leader, transforming our culture in an illiberal direction.
“If we don’t reform education soon, it’s going to be game over for our traditional culture of expressive freedom and civic patriotism,” he added.
Reaction to the release has been largely positive given the interesting insight Kaufmann offers.
Others shared their own experiences with Woke extremism in educational settings.
The Third Awokening is available to purchase in the United States and Canada. It is scheduled to be released in the United Kingdom on June 20.
