Report: Progressive policies rebranded but remain unchanged, requiring constant vigilance
October 17, 2024
The progressive movement is not going to disappear simply because its tactics have been recognized. As history has shown, they will continue to rebrand and press forward. This necessitates constant vigilance in defending liberty.
A recent example is the rebranding of “DEI” (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) to “IE,” or “Inclusive Excellence.” As City Journal aptly notes, this is merely a cosmetic change:
“The American College of Surgeons is trying to expunge the term DEI from antiracism and critical race theory initiatives. An attempted rebranding was inevitable, given how rapidly the term and its associated programs have fallen out of favor. Universities, corporations, and institutions of all kinds are eagerly rechristening, if not dismantling, their DEI departments and laying off their DEI administrators. The new name of the game is ‘Inclusive Excellence.’ Like ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion,’ it has a nice ring to it and even seems to signal a return to a focus on merit.”
This pattern has been seen before. DEI itself was a rebranding of CRT (Critical Race Theory), which followed earlier aggressive anti-racism efforts, all diverging from the true goal of achieving a society without racism.
For instance, after schools were instructed not to teach CRT, many rebranded it as SEL (Social and Emotional Learning). The policies remain the same, only the labels change. Colleges are following suit, renaming departments rather than altering their policies.
This reflects the broader challenge. Progressives are ideologically committed to these policies, just as their opponents are against them. The names may change, but the essence remains the same. Opponents of these policies must remain vigilant, tracking them through each iteration.
Progressives will not fade away. If they are not actively challenged, they will persist.