Timothy Shenk (GSAS ‘16) broke down his new book “Left Adrift: What Happened to Liberal Politics” and spoke on how democracy has evolved throughout the years. 

On October 29, the Book Culture on 112th Street partially closed their upstairs area to have a chat with Timothy Shenk about his new book. Joined by Columbia University’s Andrew Delbanco, the Alexander Hamilton Professor of American Studies, Shenk spoke about three key words, democracy, liberalism, and populism, and how these words have shaped politics on the center-left. This shift encompasses democratic political ideology in the United States but includes examples in the U.K., Israel, and parts of Africa. By using the rivalry between two prominent political strategists, Stan Greenberg and Doug Schoen, as a focal point, Shenk tracked the transformation of democracy over recent decades, particularly how it has transitioned from a focus on economic divisions to cultural and identity-based divisions.

The book, and the conversation surrounding it, centered on democracy’s evolving role in government and society. Shenk described democracy as ideally “universal, egalitarian, and open to change,” but, at the end of the day, it must first and foremost reflect and represent public opinion. He emphasized the need for a pragmatic balance between ideals and realism, especially in a political climate where party lines are blurred by the cultural values they represent. “It’s easy to believe in public opinion when it’s on our side,” Shenk observed, “but much harder when it’s against us.” He highlighted the importance of democratic structures that account for both enduring equity and the fluctuating nature of public opinion—a challenge in today’s polarized environment.

Shenk highlighted the next concept, liberalism, and its relationship with democracy and Democrats, emphasizing how the New Deal era once presented a dominant political majority even under Republican leaders like Dwight Eisenhower. Shenk noted that liberalism’s base began to shift in the 1960s when labor versus capital became overshadowed by other urgent issues: civil rights, feminism, and LGBTQ+ rights. Economic crises and labor rights were sidelined as other social issues gained prominence, challenging liberals to accommodate new priorities. This diversification, while beneficial, sometimes diluted the clarity of the center-left’s message. 

Shenk went on to discuss the rise of neoliberalism—a commitment to free trade and a more tempered stance on labor union demands. As Democrats sought to broaden their appeal, they began focusing more on working-class issues, recognizing the limits of relying solely on college-educated voters. Bill Clinton, for instance, exemplified this shift, aiming to gain broader support by recalibrating liberal ideals to appeal to a wider swath of the electorate. Shenk argued that liberalism is constantly changing as new voting issues become important for the people, bending to the economy and cultural problems that arise with time. 

Shenk lastly delved into populism, drawing a distinction between popularism—a movement that seeks to address issues genuinely important to voters—and the more divisive strands of populism seen in recent years. He argued that populism, at its core, is often not about elite backlash alone but a response to perceived disconnections between political leadership and public priorities. “A protest for race can transform into a larger movement without losing its original intent,” Shenk explained, illustrating how single-issue protests can grow into broader revolts that reshape political landscapes.

After the breakdown of his book, Shenk then opened the floor for questions from the audience. I was able to ask a question surrounding the electoral college and its implications on the fragility of democracy. As a student from a swing state, I wanted to know about how the electoral college fit into Shenk’s definition of democracy and public opinion when Democrats have won the popular vote in seven of the last eight elections, but they have not secured an electoral victory each time. 

Shenk responded by saying that America is flawed on a foundational level due to many things that need re-evaluating, like reconsidering the filibuster and checking the power of the Supreme Court, but these changes take time. What needs to be done in the short-term to start ensuring that the electoral college reflects the popular opinion is for politicians to emphasize and engage the “unheard middle” rather than catering solely to the polarizing 5% of each party.

In the wake of the recent 2024 election, Shenk’s insights feel especially resonant. With a GOP-controlled Senate, Supreme Court, and a renewed Trump presidency following his victory over Vice President Kamala Harris, questions about the efficacy of democracy and the resilience of liberalism are more urgent than ever. Shenk’s warning about the fragility of defining Democrats as merely “Not Trump” comes to a spotlight in this moment when Democrats are left searching for a fresh identity and strategy in a conservative-dominated political landscape. The outcome of the 2024 election underscores Shenk’s argument that democracy must go beyond representing a simple majority to also address deep structural issues, bridging the gap between public opinion and governmental power. Shenk’s analysis, despite being published before the 2024 presidential election, calls attention to the value of shifting from “Not Trump” opposition to clear, positive messaging that can resonate even in a landscape dominated by cultural divides and populist sentiment.

Throughout the event, Shenk’s candid and witty observations left the audience with much to ponder about the direction of modern politics. Left Adrift serves as both a historical account and a critique of the choices that have brought us to this complex moment in democracy’s evolution, urging readers to think about how public opinion, structural change, and clear messaging might reshape liberal politics in the future like it has so many times before.

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