I’m in a sociology class on right-wing extremism, and we were talking about the U.S. election results. In sociology we’re taught to see the shades of grey in society—to try and understand things from perspectives we would never have ourselves, to be empathetic even if we personally disagree. But no one in that room could conceptualize why people wouldn’t vote for Harris. Even the prof, who’s at the top of his field, said flippantly, “What a difficult choice: the price of eggs, or women’s rights?” No one in the room could imagine that the cost of living might be a more concrete issue for some people than abstract notions of rights or democracy. No one could imagine that Trump voters might very well have thought they were protecting women, based on culture war illusions the bourgeoisie pushes on them. No one mentioned that the Democrats didn’t do a thing to stop this, during the Biden administration or any other time they’ve been in power.
This isn’t just an election issue. One of the readings for that class was Umberto Eco’s Ur-Fascism, which makes the argument that fascism is inherently contradictory and impossible to understand. When I tried to ask the prof to explain some contradictory belief one group had, he shut me down. “Stop trying to find logic where there is none.” I refuse to accept that. Why am I in this class, if not to try to understand? Why am I doing this degree?
It’s times like this I’m glad I’m a Marxist. My Marxist education has made me a better sociologist than any of the formal training I’ve had.
– Tiana M., Victoria
