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

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.

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.

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.

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.
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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.

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.

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

462 implied HN points • 16 Sep 23
🚌 Education 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.

Why are the Celtic nations so progressive?

418 implied HN points • 06 Aug 23
🌍 World Politics Progressivism 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.

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.

The sad tale of GB News

220 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🌍 World Politics Media Conservatism Liberal democracy
  1. Conservative media has significantly increased in number due to the internet.
  2. The proliferation of media challenges the ability of liberal democracies to manage extreme voices.
  3. GB News struggled to balance satisfying viewers with complying to establishment norms.

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.

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.

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.