The Ideas Letter
Issue 43 of The Ideas Letter kicks off with the Mexican political theorist Tessy Schlosser, who proffers a measured and critical defense of identity politics. Schlosser seeks neither to defend nor to bury the contested concept; she acknowledges its limits and burdens, and argues for a more nuanced understanding how identity contests power.
Then follows the sharp pen of Sam Adler-Bell, best known as the co-host of the nonpareil Know Your Enemy podcast, which digs deep into foundational conservative ideas from a leftist perspective. Who better for Adler-Bell to assay than William F. Buckley and the brand-spanking-new, three-decades-in-the-making 1,000-page biography by Sam Tanenhaus.
We then bring back Evgeny Morozov, this time for a critical response to a recent Ideas Letter essay on neoliberal philosophy from the historian Quinn Slobodian. Morozov upends Slobodian’s arguments that changing metaphors define neoliberal thought, instead pointing to its consistencies over time.
Our curated section kicks off with a conversation between two seasoned observers of the Russian political scene: Marlene Laruelle and Masha Lipman. Echoing the brilliant Stephen Kotkin in her analysis, Laruelle seeks to understand how ideology constitutes the new Russian subject.
Next up is an interview with the political economist Vamsi Vakulabharanam on the long and winding road of inequality’s history in the People’s Republic of China. This is followed by an examination of the social history of analytical philosophy, a synopsis by philosopher Christoph Schuringa of his exciting new Verso book.
Writer E. Tammy Kim’s profound personal meditation on her mother, intergenerational responsibility, South Korea, and midlife is an essay not to be missed.
We conclude with another reflection, this time about opening ourselves to listening to non-human life through AI—in this case the life of whales.
Featured Essays
What is The Ideas Letter
Welcome to The Ideas Letter, a publication that prizes the unconventional. We are not in the business of persuading. We won’t try to convince you of anything—other than that the world is complex and reality ever-shifting. We are not here to advocate. What you will find, and we hope embrace, are contributions from across ideological aisles, from a broad range of disciplines and a true cross-section of thinking. If catholicity is your métier, and you are uneasy with banging the drum but would rather hear its many sounds, this is the place for you.
We really like critique. Not the mean-spirited or spiteful kind, but rather commentary that raises tough questions, unpacks assumptions, sometimes calls people on the carpet, and always provides opportunity for discussion. That is what we are really after—facilitating, augmenting, furthering, and bolstering debate around issues of consequence.
You’ll find here articles, essays, and criticism that will challenge you to think. Let us know your thoughts, and make sure to tell a friend. Or even someone with whom you disagree!