Dear Editor, 

Shortly after the destruction of the Berlin Wall signaled the end of the Cold War, Francis Fukuyama declared ‘The End of History’ and the global triumph of democratic, secular liberalism in 1992. Building on Wilhelm, Hegel and Marx, Fukuyama posited that Western style liberalism possessed intrinsic advantages that would ensure its ultimate universality. In the vernacular of today, Fukuyama argued that democracy and liberalism were ‘apex memes’ - the most viral forms of governance.

In the U.S. a related theory - ‘Demographic Destiny’ - has also been lurking within the salons of the Democratic coalition since the Clinton era. This doctrine presumed that the majority of non-white U.S. voters would always favor Democrats, and that the proportion of non-white voters would continue to inexorably rise in response to the impact of birthrates and immigration on demographic trends. Thus, a hypothetical demographic tipping point was inevitable. When it occurred, it would secure a perpetual majority for the DNC and its constituencies. 

Recent history suggests both theories are flawed political conceits. 

Despite the collapse of Soviet communism, ‘The End of History’ failed to account for the persistence of conflicts fueled by non-ideological fault lines - religion, ethnicity, and geographic economic competition. Each of those factors has played a role in the resurgence of authoritarianism, the rise of cyber and proxy warfare, and the segregating tendencies of social media in the 21st century. 

‘Demographic Destiny’ presumed communities of color in the U.S. would remain monolithic. Black voters would perpetually favor the Democrats for their civil rights record, support for entitlement programs and advocacy for affirmative action. Hispanic and Latino voters would universally align with Democrats for their support of open borders and citizenship for Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants. However, the 2020 election revealed that communities of color in the U.S. can’t be defined politically simply by ethnicity. Demographics may not be destiny.

Diversity affects political priorities as well as racial equality. Social justice is not an apex meme because voting allegiances actually aren’t welded to racial identity or defined by a single issue. In our brave new world of segregated media, Democrats will have to address the religious concerns, economic interests and cultural biases of individual voters to receive a durable mandate - rather than waiting for demographics to do the job. 

Why does this matter? 

Because 2020 is a Census year, and in 2021 State legislatures will again engage in an orgy of gerrymandering. Thanks to surveillance capitalism, it has never been easier to pinpoint the geographic location of people who actually voted, and to know for whom they voted. Republicans control more State legislatures, and more of the swing states, than Democrats coming out of the 2020 election.  Rather than fantasizing about abolishing the Electoral College, Democrats should be exploring the policy changes, compromises and more viral communication strategies that could broaden their coalition.

Derek Ridgley
Nederland