The ReUpswing

Photo from Flickr

 

In The Upswing, Robert Putnam notes a pattern. In the late 19th century we were an individualistic country. As we moved into the 20th century, we became less individualist and shared more of the same values, something he calls "communitarian." After the 1960s, we reverted to becoming more individualistic. 

Putnam believes that if we shifted away from individualism before, we can do it again. My hypothesis is that this shift has already started, but it looks nothing like the previous move to communitarianism, instead it’s more of the conformity side of those communitarian/shared values. 

The culture war that is happening right now is about two dominant groups trying to enforce conformity. Both the cancel culture left and the natcon right want Americans to conform to their values. 

Take pronouns. They started off as a way for people to be open and accepting to all gender identities, very individualistic. Now you have employers forcing their employees to put their pronouns in their email signatures and Zoom names. Conform or be fired.

Take education. You had conservatives saying school choice (ie charter schools) is good; parents need more options. Now you have anti CRT laws censuring curriculum, leading to fewer options for learning. These laws don't happen at the local level; they apply to the all public schools in the whole state. You must conform. 

So I do think we are becoming less individualistic. But it’s not a reversion to the Putnam’s good communitarian values, but the darker conformist side. And two cultures are fighting it out while liberalism is standing on the sideline like, "Can't we go back to 'live and let live'?"

I don't know where this is going to go, but it doesn't seem like either side wants to make concessions. And classical liberalism, which has been the past solution to this problem, doesn't seem to have much sway. 

It's almost like community and conformity have decoupled. If I had to guess, I would say the cancel culture left will win out because it has youth on its side. As Tanner Greer wrote, Culture Wars are Long Wars. In a few generations, the nationalist conservatives will die out and the leftist will be dominant. 

However, illiberalism has historically been unpopular and I think cancel culture will make too many enemies for it to have too much cultural power. Something novel will replace both ideologies and maybe it will look something more like communitarianism.