Mamdani, Corbyn and the War Within the Centre-Left

In this episode of the Explaining History Podcast, I explore the striking parallels between the British Labour Party's war on Jeremy Corbyn and the Democrat establishment's growing fear of Zohran Mamdani – a new kind of left politics that refuses to be bullied.We begin with the uncomfortable truth that much of what passes for "liberalism" in American politics – and "moderation" in British politics – is a defence of wealthy interests dressed up in progressive language. The Democrats and the post-Thatcher Labour Party share a common DNA: they believe in markets, they court Wall Street and Silicon Valley, and they have systematically abandoned any meaningful commitment to redistributing wealth and power.Then we turn to the Corbyn story – an object lesson for the American left. Between 2015 and 2020, a genuinely anti-austerity movement swept through the Labour Party, only to be destroyed from within by a coordinated campaign of sabotage. The Labour right, funded by billionaire donors and organised through secretive groups like Labour Together, waged a rolling coup against their own leader – not because they disagreed with his policies, but because he threatened to actually implement them.Now we see similar dynamics unfolding in New York, where Zohran Mamdani has emerged as a powerful left voice. Mamdani is running on a platform of material issues – rent, childcare, transport – that directly address the crises ordinary people face. Unlike some on the centre-left, he has not thrown marginalised communities under the bus to win elections. He refuses to waver on Palestine. He has shown that a popular left platform is possible – and that is precisely why the establishment fears him.**Topics covered:**- The ideological collapse of the Democrats and Labour Party- Neoliberalism, austerity, and the abandonment of social democracy- The Corbyn years and the internal sabotage of the Labour left- The rise of Zohran Mamdani in New York- How the centre-left handles the left – the lessons of Corbyn- The fear that democratic socialism might actually work---*If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting us – we are migrating from Patreon to Substack. Details in the show notes.*Explaining History helps you understand the 20th Century through critical conversations and expert interviews. We connect the past to the present. If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and share.▸ Support the Show & Get Exclusive ContentBecome a Patron: patreon.com/explaininghistory▸ Join the Community & Continue the ConversationFacebook Group: facebook.com/groups/ExplainingHistoryPodcastSubstack: theexplaininghistorypodcast.substack.com▸ Read Articles & Go DeeperWebsite: explaininghistory.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.