Musa al-Gharbi is a sociologist and public intellectual whose work explores pressing social and political issues, including polarization, identity, inequality, and collective behavior. His research has been widely featured in prominent outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Guardian, where he is known for challenging dominant narratives and offering fresh, evidence-based perspectives on divisive topics. He is currently a faculty member at Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism and is the author of the recently published book We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite (Princeton University Press, 2024).
In his upcoming talk, Musa will delve into the themes of his new book, offering a critical analysis of contemporary social justice movements and the cultural and political dynamics surrounding them. Drawing on extensive research, he examines the motivations and consequences of “wokeness” as a cultural phenomenon, particularly as it has been adopted and driven by elite institutions. Musa raises important questions about how these movements impact society at large, including their influence on social cohesion, public discourse, and economic and political systems.