Unjust social justice warriors and the unmaking of America

"An elegant and thoughtful dismantling of perhaps the most dangerous ideology at work today." — BEN SHAPIRO, bestselling author and host of "The Ben Shapiro Show" "Reading Noah Rothman is like a workout for your brain." — DANA PERINO, bestselling author and former press secretary to President George W. Bush There are just two problems with "social justice": it's not social and it's not just. Rather, it is a toxic ideology that encourages division, anger, and vengeance. In this penetrating work, Commentary editor and MSNBC contributor Noah Rothman uncovers the real motives behind the social justice movement and explains why, despite its occasionally ludicrous public face, it is a threat to be taken seriously. American political parties were once defined by their ideals. That idealism, however, is now imperiled by an obsession with the demographic categories of race, sex, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, which supposedly constitute a person's "identity." As interest groups defined by identity alone command the comprehensive allegiance of their members, ordinary politics gives way to "Identitarian" warfare, each group looking for payback and convinced that if it is to rise, another group must fall. In a society governed by "social justice," the most coveted status is victimhood, which people will go to absurd lengths to attain. But the real victims in such a regime are blind justice—the standard of impartiality that we once took for granted—and free speech. These hallmarks of American liberty, already gravely compromised in universities, corporations, and the media, are under attack in our legal and political systems. There are just two problems with "social justice": it's not social and it's not just. Rather, it is a toxic ideology that encourages division, anger, and vengeance. In this penetrating work, Noah Rothman uncovers the real motives behind the social justice movement and explains why, despite its occasionally ludicrous public face, it is a threat to be taken seriously. American political parties were once defined by their ideals. That idealism, however, is now imperiled by an obsession with the demographic cateogies of race, sex, ethnicity, and sexual orientation, which supposedly constitute a person's "identity." As interest groups defined by identity alone command the comprehensive allegience of their members, ordinary politics gives way to "Identitarian" warfare, each group looking for payback and convinced that if it is to rise, another group must fall. In a society governed by "social justice," the most coveted status is victimhood, which people will go to absurd lengths to attain. but the real victims in such a regime are blind justice - the standard of impartiality that we once took for granted - and free speech. These hallmarks of American liberty, already gravely compromised in universities, corporations, and the media, are under attack in our legal and political systems. Social justice is a creed born of grievances, some of them undoubtedly valid. But Rothman shows that tribalism and the fanatical pursuit of retribution threaten to destroy a political culture that is historically unmatched in its friendliness to justice. The danger is real and the threat is urgent. -- From dust jacket Introduction -- Identitarianism -- A nation or a people? -- Truths and transgressions -- Lifting the veil -- Entry-level politics -- Victimocracy -- Violent delights -- "Throw it the hell out" -- Conclusion.;There are just two problems with 'social justice': it's not social and it's not just. Rather, it is a toxic ideology that encourages division, anger, and vengeance. In this penetrating work, Commentary editor and MSNBC contributor Noah Rothman uncovers the real motives behind the social justice movement and explains why, despite its occasionally ludicrous public face, it is a threat to be taken seriously.