How Postmodernism Became a Political Ideology

Book: Cynical Theories : How Activist Scholarship Made Everything about Race, Gender, and Identity -- Helen Pluckrose, James A: LindsayThe book outlines the history and evolution of postmodernism, tracing its shift from a nihilistic academic theory to an authoritarian activist ideology. The authors argue that while original postmodernism focused on radical skepticism and the deconstruction of truth, it has mutated into applied postmodernism, which treats identity-based oppression as an objective reality. This new framework, often called Social Justice scholarship or wokeism, prioritizes group identity over universal liberalism and views all social interactions through the lens of power dynamics and systemic bigotry. By controlling language and discourses, proponents of this ideology seek to dismantle Enlightenment values like reason, science, and individualism. Ultimately, the authors contend that this illiberal movement threatens the foundations of modern democracy and harms society by replacing evidence-based inquiry with dogmatic orthodoxy.