James Lindsay Faces Conservative Backlash Over 'Woke Right' Accusations, Sparks Intra-Movement Debate

Prominent anti-woke author and intellectual James Lindsay is navigating significant internal conservative criticism, a situation he described as being "cancelled by conservatives." The backlash stems from his controversial concept of a "woke right," which posits that certain factions within the conservative movement are adopting tactics and ideologies akin to those they oppose on the left. Lindsay's recent public statements on social media highlight the growing ideological schism within American conservatism, stating:

Greatness has been thrust upon me. That I should be a thought leader (context: INSTEAD OF CANCELLED BY CONSERVATIVES) isn't wanting to be one. I remain a humble educator at heart.

Lindsay, known for his critiques of critical theory and his involvement in the 2018 "grievance studies hoax," has become a leading voice in the anti-woke movement. His work often focuses on what he terms "cultural Marxism" and its perceived influence across various societal institutions. He has previously gained attention for popularizing terms like "ok groomer" and for his website, New Discourses, which serves as a platform for his analyses and commentary.

The "woke right" concept, as articulated by Lindsay, describes a segment of conservatives who, in his view, mimic the "woke left's" emphasis on identity, grievance, and power dynamics. To illustrate this, Lindsay recently revealed a hoax where he rewrote portions of Karl Marx's "Communist Manifesto" to align with "Christian Nationalist" ideology, which was then published by a Protestant political website. He stated, "Anybody on the right who‘s basically pushing for Machiavellian power plays is probably woke right," according to the Deseret News.

This internal critique has ignited a broader debate among conservative figures. Public intellectual Jordan Peterson has characterized the "woke right" phenomenon as a product of "psychopathic pretenders" using social media algorithms to advance narcissistic agendas. Conversely, paleo-conservative Paul Gottfried has dismissed the notion entirely, arguing that those labeled "woke right" are, in fact, the most relentless critics of wokeness. This divergence underscores deep ideological rifts concerning the direction and tactics of the conservative movement.

Despite the controversy, Lindsay asserts his preference for his role as an educator. In his tweet, he also issued a pointed critique:

You're drunk on theories of power, kid. There's more to life. Get a wife and a hobby. This reflects his ongoing concern with what he perceives as an over-emphasis on power struggles, advocating for a return to more fundamental values amidst the evolving landscape of conservative thought.