There is renewed interest in socialism in the US and the UK, particularly among young people. Who are these new socialists? Why now?
In The Socialist Awakening author John B. Judis, who brilliantly explained the rise of populism and nationalism in his two most recent books, The Populist Explosion and The Nationalist Revival, charts the path of socialism in the last century to today's rising left, which has little connection to Marxian socialism and consists primarily of leftwing Keynesians seeking to displace the older center-left parties. Socialists today are driven by their growing anxiety and uncertainty about their place in the world. What they see in socialism is what early socialists and Christian socialists saw: communal values, cooperation rather than competition, an ethical approach to government.
They seek public intervention about their concerns over access to education, healthcare, and the danger of climate change. But Judis sends out a warning against misreading the rise of the left not as a reaction to the populist right, but as an opportunity to re-introduce Marxist claptrap.
About the Author
John B. Judis is Editor-At-Large at Talking Points Memo and author of many books, including The Nationalist Revival: Trade, Immigration, and the Revolt Against Globalization, The Populist Explosion: How the Great Recession Transformed American and European Politics, Genesis: Truman, American Jews , and the Origin of the Arab-Israeli Conflict , and The Emerging Democratic Majority , co-written with Ruy Teixeira. He has written for numerous publications, including The New Republic, The National Journal, The New York Times Magazine, Mother Jones and The Washington Post.
Born in Chicago, he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Philosophy from the University of California, Berkeley. He lives in Silver Spring, MD.
Industry Reviews
"In The Socialist Awakening, the journalist John B. Judis proposes that a new socialism is emerging among the young and educated. He builds on his earlier volumes on nationalism and populism, collectivist ideas that have surged because of a 'breakdown' of the 'consensus on the virtues of the free market and of globalization.'" -New York Times Book Review
"The rebirth of American socialism has come complete with any number of explanatory and exhortatory books, the best of which is The Socialist Awakening, a brief, incisive volume by veteran political journalist and longtime democratic socialist, John B. Judis.... Judis writes not merely as an analyst of an ideology's return but as an advocate for its necessity, with particularly shrewd assessments of how the new American socialism can advance, and, alternatively, how it may marginalize itself into irrelevance...essential reading for progressives and socialists." -The American Prospect
"An eye-opening read.... I felt an emotional connection to this book about how socialism has evolved over the years in America and Great Britain, and where it stands today. His is an unvarnished rendition-the highs and lows, warts and all-of how we got to today and where we might go from here if we're successful." -LA Progressive
"One extremely helpful recent intervention in the debate on how the American left should move forward is John Judis' The Socialist Awakening. Judis analyses the left resurgence accompanying Bernie Sanders' surprisingly successful campaigns for nomination as the Democratic presidential candidate in 2016 and 2020. He sees signs of hope in developments on the left in recent years-but also reasons for concern." -Sheri Berman, Social Europe
"Completing the trilogy he began with The Populist Explosion and The Nationalist Revival, journalist and political analyst Judis offers a cogent, incisive examination of growing interest in socialist ideals in the U.S., U.K., and Europe.... A pragmatic view of systemic social change." -Kirkus Reviews
