The Path Not Taken

The Path Not Taken explores political dynamics through institutional theory, focusing on the evolution and contradictions of liberalism, the impact of academia's ideological biases, the role of heterodoxy and scholar-activism, and the influence of sociocultural classes. It critically assesses media, political movements, and leadership within contemporary and progressive contexts.

Liberalism and Democracy Academic and Ideological Biases Heterodoxy and Freedom of Speech Progressivism and Governance Media and Political Communication Political Leadership and Trust Scholar-Activism Sociocultural Classes and Power Corporate and Sociocultural Alliances

The hottest Substack posts of The Path Not Taken

And their main takeaways

Is cancel culture a panic? A review of The Cancel Culture Panic by Adrian Daub

176 implied HN points • 22 Dec 24
🎭️ Culture Cancel Culture Freedom of Speech Academic Freedom
  1. Cancel culture is sometimes seen as overhyped, mainly by conservatives, who use it to avoid discussing deeper issues like job security and accountability. This suggests that some debates may be more about politics than actual problems.
  2. The book points out that while there are real cases of people being canceled, these examples might be getting too much attention compared to the bigger picture. The significance of individual cases needs to be carefully assessed.
  3. Self-censorship is an important part of the free speech debate, but some critiques downplay its seriousness. This means we should consider how people might silence themselves in discussions, especially in academic settings.

The year behind and ahead

88 implied HN points • 06 Jan 25
🎭️ Culture Education Literature Philanthropy Social justice Personal Development
  1. In 2024, there were 25 posts made, averaging over two per month, which the writer felt good about considering their other commitments.
  2. The writer has been fundraising for the Malala Fund to support girls' education, highlighting the importance of charitable causes.
  3. A big project is in the works, focusing on the rise of social justice ideology, which may lead to less frequent posts as it requires a lot of time and effort.

Is Parliament capable of debating assisted dying?

242 implied HN points • 29 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Debate Ethics Policy Health
  1. Parliament is debating a bill on assisted dying, which shows that the issue is gaining traction but still has a long way to go before becoming law.
  2. Many MPs tend to rely on emotional stories and anecdotes, rather than focusing on facts and balanced reasoning during debates.
  3. The quality of parliamentary debates seems to be declining, with a shift towards more emotional discussions instead of analytical thinking.

Why I’m staying on Twitter/X

198 implied HN points • 14 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Discourse Social media Election Impact Public Opinion
  1. Some people are leaving Twitter/X because they are unhappy with Elon Musk's influence, especially regarding politics. Many worry about the site's changes and direction.
  2. Staying on the platform allows users to engage with its diverse community, which has existed even before Musk. There's a belief that leaving could give up the chance to shape conversations that happen there.
  3. Critics of Musk should be careful not to isolate themselves. A lot of people still use Twitter/X for non-political content, and staying might help keep progressive voices active on the platform.

Tuesday’s US election and why social justice ideology might not be so bad for liberal democracy

66 implied HN points • 03 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Elections Democracy Political Ideologies Social justice Political parties
  1. Social justice ideology is having a big impact on the Democratic Party and its relationship with liberal democracy. It focuses on identity and the protection of marginalized groups.
  2. Surveys show that people who support social justice values also tend to support the separation of powers within government, which is a key part of liberal democracy.
  3. While there are some conflicts between social justice ideology and liberal democratic values, it also highlights the need to defend rights and fairness for all, especially in times of political tension.
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A retracted paper tells us something important about academia

418 implied HN points • 13 Mar 24
🚌 Education Academia Standards
  1. A retracted paper revealed resistance in academia to the idea of certain subjects or institutions having more merit than others, especially regarding external hierarchies.
  2. In academia, there appears to be a growing trend of reluctance towards acknowledging external hierarchies, potentially leading to declining standards and subjects being vulnerable to market pressures.
  3. Editorial actions and societal trends reflect a shift towards more egalitarian philosophies in academia, raising concerns about defending academic standards and traditional disciplines against cost-cutting measures.

Christopher Rufo and the problem of anti-wokeness

330 implied HN points • 22 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Conservatism Social justice Education Ideology Authoritarianism
  1. Christopher Rufo's ideas are influential in conservative circles and may shape a new administration if Trump wins.
  2. Rufo's book focuses on anti-wokeness as a response to critical theory and the excesses of social justice ideology.
  3. Critics are concerned about the aggressive and vague language suggesting radical countermeasures against ideologies, advocating for moderation and maintaining liberal-democratic principles.

The limits of heterodoxy - my review of the Battle of Ideas

462 implied HN points • 31 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideas Debates Freedom of Speech Liberalism Authoritarianism
  1. The Battle of Ideas festival had some limitations in representing a diverse range of viewpoints.
  2. There is a tension within the heterodox movement between promoting freedom of speech and the values of its supporters.
  3. The heterodox movement plays a crucial role in providing spaces for those marginalized by mainstream perspectives.

With few conservatives, academia will struggle to develop a theory of progressivism

462 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
🚌 Education Ideological analysis Research Methods
  1. Academia may struggle to develop a theory of progressivism if there are few conservatives involved.
  2. There is a lack of academic work on progressivism despite significant changes in left-wing ideology.
  3. The lack of conservatives in academia may hinder the growth of research on progressivism and lead to challenges in developing a comprehensive theory.

The crisis of scholar-activism

264 implied HN points • 18 Dec 23
🚌 Education Activism Scholarship Academia Research
  1. Scholar-activism has faced a crisis lately, especially concerning left-wing positions like support for Palestine.
  2. There is tension between the original ideal of activism and its progression into institutionalized careerism.
  3. The future of scholar-activism is uncertain, with some scholar-activists falling silent and facing challenges in balancing their activism with their academic careers.

Why are the Celtic nations so progressive?

418 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Progressivism Policy Influence Political Ideologies
  1. Celtic nations have progressive governments despite mixed voter opinions, reflecting divisions between elites and voters.
  2. Small countries like Celtic nations are at the forefront of progressive cultural policies due to their vulnerability to policy capture and underdeveloped civil societies.
  3. In Celtic nations like Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, internal conditions, external pressures, and the profile of devolved governments contribute to the encouragement of progressivism.

The state of The Path Not Taken

220 implied HN points • 04 Jan 24
📰 News Current Events Opinion Media Academia Social media
  1. The author has gained over 1,200 subscribers from 58 countries for their Substack on politics and academics.
  2. In 2023, the author focused on topics like low liberalism, freedom of speech, and reviewed books on academia.
  3. The author plans to continue writing about politics with a focus on institutional theory in 2024 and asks for recommendations to help grow their Substack.

Lindsay Hoyle must resign

154 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Political Debate
  1. Protecting colleagues is important, but actions that compromise democracy can be dangerous.
  2. Facing threats is part of an MP's role; caving into them can erode the democratic process.
  3. High standards are vital for senior office holders, and any compromise for safety may have significant consequences.

Why is Keir Starmer so untrustworthy?

286 implied HN points • 07 Sep 23
🌍 World Politics Trustworthiness Labour Party UK politics
  1. Keir Starmer has been seen as untrustworthy due to contradictory positions he has taken on various issues.
  2. Changes in voter demand and institutional change may explain Keir Starmer's inconsistency as a politician.
  3. The increased importance of cultural dimensions in politics has made compromise difficult and contributed to untrustworthy behavior among politicians.

If Labour is elected, the sky probably won’t fall in

132 implied HN points • 21 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Political Analysis Cultural impact Government Policy Public Opinion
  1. The upcoming UK Labour party's victory might not bring a radical cultural revolution, as some fear.
  2. Despite concerns about radical progressive ideas influencing Labour, they appear to be leading in the polls due to adopting more moderate positions.
  3. Government policies play a role in shaping culture, but long incumbencies can have negative effects on democracy and public services.

A review of Matt Goodwin’s Values, Voice and Virtue

374 implied HN points • 09 Apr 23
🌍 World Politics Political Ideology Liberalism Social justice Economic Inequality
  1. Matt Goodwin argues about a new elite in Britain conflicting with working classes' values and interests.
  2. The book suffers from vague definitions, failing to engage with key debates and lacking focus.
  3. There's a need for deeper analysis of socio-cultural professionals and progressive ideology to present a more balanced view.

The long march of low liberalism - A review of Bringing Down Goliath by Jolyon Maugham

264 implied HN points • 30 Apr 23
  1. Jolyon Maugham's book discusses the evolution of liberal-democratic institutions and his relationship with low liberalism.
  2. Maugham presents reasonable cases against government overreach and corruption but indulges in identity politics and supports gender self-identification.
  3. Maugham's activism sometimes conflicts with his role as a lawyer, raising questions about the compatibility of activism and legal duties.

Should I stay or should I go?

242 implied HN points • 29 May 23
🌍 World Politics UK politics Labour Party
  1. UCU Congress passed a controversial motion regarding Ukraine and US imperialism, leading to resignations.
  2. Author reflects on past involvement in Labour Party and considers staying to fight within UCU rather than resigning.
  3. The dilemma of whether to resign from UCU or not is influenced by the history of dealing with Corbynism in the Labour Party.