Regressive left

The regressive left is a term coined by anti-Islamist activist Maajid NawazNawaz, Maajid (2012). Radical: My Journey out of Islamist Extremism. WH Allen. ISBN 9781448131617. to describe a perceived segment of the left which defends certain reactionary and anti-feminist attitudes in the name of 'tolerance'. Nawaz originally used it to refer to misguided leftist tolerance of conservative and fundamentalist Islam (underbelly and all) in contrast to their progressive stance against the scourge of conservative and fundamentalist Christianity, but the term has since been extended to encompass many (but curiously not all) leftist positions that appear contradictory to progressive values.
Whilst the original purpose of the term was to challenge supposed progressives' failure to stand up for progressive values where Islam is concerned, the term has also been adopted by centrists, conservatives, and other rightists as a snarl word directed at any leftist positions they don't happen to like, similar to the snarl usage of the term "social justice warrior". As is to be expected, rival camps revel in the infighting of their opponents.
==Usage==
===As a real, actual problem within the left===
The concept of a reactionary left originated when cultural and moral relativism left the postmodernist lens of academia and entered popular political discourse.http://www.weeklystandard.com/the-reactionary-left/article/604180 The concept most people define as "multiculturalism" today is the secular idea of cultural pluralism combined with this new, politically active relativism. Since relativism is a neutral academic stance, applying it to current political or ideological positions raises problems. A relativist observer holds that there is no objective standard by which one culture or moral system can be measured to be better than another. This position (if held absolutely) logically entails that liberal values such as free speech and equal rights are not objectively better than a rejection of them.Why I speak out against Islamism
So what happens when a conflict involves a disadvantaged group that not only does not support, but actively opposes progressive values such as tolerance of sexual identity or gender equality? For the "relativist progressive", there are three possible courses — they can abandon relativism and advocate for change in all groups, even if it means placing pressure on already disadvantaged groups; they can reserve their criticisms for the dominant group alone by employing a tactical form of relativism which only applies to marginalized groups, in extreme cases even shielding the disadvantaged group from criticism as it continues to oppress others; or they can simply insist that no value can be known to be better than another and wing it according to whatever trendy movement is popular with them at the moment. The latter two options are by some described as "the regressive left". Some liberals, such as Natalie Reed, argue postmodernists can avoid the pitfalls of relativism, and take firm positions on issues across social and cultural boundaries.Confessions Of A Post-Modernist
Those on the regressive left think that the concept of cultural pluralism raises difficult questions about how progressive liberals should act in a pluralistic society. How should a feminist criticize patriarchy, while also being mindful that some disadvantaged groups have a patriarchal culture? How should an atheist take a strong position against religion, while also recognizing that minority religious groups are marginalized in society? For anyone with half a brain, of course, the answer is simple: Having your beliefs and values criticized in no way amounts to being oppressed.
===As an imagined non-problem within the left invented by conservatives===
Conservatives and other reactionaries usually use the term as a snarl word. Most of them are just looking for a way to attack liberals for not sharing blatantly racist or xenophobic viewpoints, or otherwise trying to direct social malign onto disadvantaged groups.The truth about "political correctness" is that it doesn't actually exist
They are generally easy to spot with a litmus test as to whether or not they actually agree with any of the criticisms leveled against these liberals. For instance, a fundamentalist Christian holds strikingly similar views to a fundamentalist Muslim. There is no reason for said Christian to support feminist, atheist, or other social criticism of Islam. The only possible motivation for Christian conservatives to support such criticism is racism and/or religious intolerance — or, at best, to redirect the conversation away from Christianity.
Some liberals have been accused of using the term to mask reactionary attitudes, in particular New Atheists such as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Richard Dawkins, and Sam Harris. According to some, their views are Islamophobic with regard to racial profiling, restricting Muslim immigration, expressing concerns about Muslim demographics,Hirsi Ali: Beware of Michiganistan and justifying preemptive wars, among other far-right attitudes (ironically, shouldn't this make them the "real" regressive leftists?). Some also use it as a snarl word to deter/silence any criticism of Western foreign policy or of contributing factors to religious fundamentalism, such as the failure of secular nationalism, poor economic conditions, etc. Such "liberals" use the term to hold on to questionable opinions while still calling themselves liberals, by calling actual progressives the "regressive left". This is a form of Jonanism, the belief that everybody criticizing you belongs under one ideological tent. The idea is that other liberals are really conservatives in disguise, thus introducing an appeal to motive and shutting down discussion.
Public figures who love to use this term, such as Sam Harris (who wrote two articles literally titled "In Defense of Torture" and "In Defense of Profiling") certainly don't seem to have a problem with holding "regressive" beliefs.
==Examples==
===Maryam Namazie===
In late November of 2015, secular activist and former Muslim Maryam Namazie was invited to give a speech at Goldsmith University by the University's Atheist, Secularist and Humanist Society. During the speech, Muslim students heckled her, up to the point of turning off her projector and the lights in the room.Namazie's speechUniversity Islamic Society accused of ‘thuggery’ against campaigner Namazie also received death threats during the speech.Activist to complain to police over death threats at controversial Goldsmiths talk The students were eventually asked to leave by campus officials.
A silver lining is that, incidentally, this gave her speech a wider audience than it would otherwise have gotten. However, after the incident, the Goldsmith Islamic Society condemned Namazie, and the local Feminist and LGBT societies released statements expressing solidarity with the Islamic Society.Muslim students try to disrupt ex-Muslim Maryam Namazie’s talk on blasphemy at Goldsmiths UniversityThe Goldsmith Feminist Society's statementMuslim students from Goldsmiths University’s Islamic Society ‘heckle and aggressively interrupt’ Maryam Namazie talkGoldsmiths ISOC fails to intimidate and silence dissenters A society that itself hosted a speaker that advocated the death penalty for apostasy.
The incident was quickly condemned by secular groups, who decried the feminist and LGBT societies for silencing Namazie — a lone minority woman — and siding with violent Islamists instead.Why Are Goldsmiths’ Feminists Applauding the Silencing of Women?Now Goldsmiths #LGBT Society Stands With Islamist BulliesGoldsmiths ISOC fails to intimidate and silence dissentersThe Shame and the Disgrace of the Pro-Islamist LeftActivist Maryam Namazie Heckled at Talk by Muslim Students Who Say She Invaded Their “Safe Space”
===Deepa Kumar===
During a speech at the University of Bath, Deepa Kumar, a professor of Middle Eastern studies at Rutgers University, put up a slide which listed 3 categories described as "New McCarthyites," which included "Ex-Muslims and other 'native informants'." Pictures of this slide, taken out of its context, attracted negative attention in the easily rilled-up blogosphere.
Kumar explained that her comments were taken out of context, and stated on Twitter that she was not referring to all ex-Muslims, but rather to "a particular group which is closely tied to the far-right".https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/07/29/professor-says-her-comments-social-media-have-been-unfairly-characterized Indeed, reactionary groups do have a tremendous soft spot for recruiting self-loathing minority group members.
==See also==
*Realist left
*Postmodernism	
*Horseshoe theory
*Criticism of Multiculturalism
*Liberal Fascism
*Cultural Marxism
*Pinko commie
*Feminazi
==References==
==External links==
*The Truth About the Regressive Left Informative video by David Pakman
Category:Anti-Western
Category:Left-wing politics
Category:Political terms
Category:Culture wars
Category:Philosophy
Category:Politics
Category:Social justice