The New Class War

Saving Democracy from the Managerial Elite

By: Michael Lind

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

In both Europe and North America, populist movements have shattered existing party systems and thrown governments into turmoil. The embattled establishment claims that these populist insurgencies seek to overthrow liberal democracy. The truth is no less alarming but is more complex: Western democracies are being torn apart by a new class war.

In this controversial and groundbreaking new analysis, Michael Lind, one of America’s leading thinkers, debunks the idea that the insurgencies are primarily the result of bigotry, traces how the breakdown of mid-century class compromises between business and labor led to the conflict, and reveals the real battle lines.

On one side is the managerial overclass—the university-credentialed elite that clusters in high-income hubs and dominates government, the economy and the culture. On the other side is the working class of the low-density heartlands—mostly, but not exclusively, native and white.

The two classes clash over immigration, trade, the environment, and social values, and the managerial class has had the upper hand. As a result of the half-century decline of the institutions that once empowered the working class, power has shifted to the institutions the overclass controls: corporations, executive and judicial branches, universities, and the media.

The class war can resolve in one of three ways:

• The triumph of the overclass, resulting in a high-tech caste system.
• The empowerment of populist, resulting in no constructive reforms
• A class compromise that provides the working class with real power

Lind argues that Western democracies must incorporate working-class majorities of all races, ethnicities, and creeds into decision making in politics, the economy, and culture. Only this class compromise can avert a never-ending cycle of clashes between oligarchs and populists and save democracy.

What we’ve been needing

This is the first book we need to try and regain control of our country. I hope to see more along these lines from other others. This book does not take a liberal or conservative perspective.

Sharp analysis crisply argued

Rare case of a book that addresses a difficult subject without oversimplification or chatty distractions

Truth to Power

Great book on the neo liberalism taking hold across the west. Good news is that there is still time reverse the trend.

Will change your paradigm on politics in the econo

This is an excellent book to get a different take and create a different paradigm on what's wrong with our political parties, immigration and our economy and where it is headed in the US and Western Europe. As the author said if changes are not made we are on the path to becoming a high-tech banana republic like Brazil with wealthy managerial elite living in gated communities surrounded by angry working class people. This is not a book that's good for Republicans or good for Democrats as the author points out there are serious issues to be found in both parties and the problems they have created.The main part of the book that readers have to learn to deal with is that it's full of technical details and research that can get deep and boring at times.

Are we becoming a high tech banana republic?

This is not a page turner but it is an excellent analysis of our current political situation. It’s about more than just class but class is at the heart of it. If I had to list a flaw it would be the absence of any good solution. The author is much better at diagnosing the problem than suggesting what to do about it but diagnosis is not unimportant. The solution shouldn’t be our side has to win.