Mamdani moment and the ideological churn in the US

The Mamdani moment is saturated with symbolism: A young progressive American with Indian and African roots has victoriously asserted his social democratic politics in the world’s financial capital.

- Atul Mishra

It is too early to tell if the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York portends a larger, fundamental shift in American politics. However, it does afford an opportunity to get a glimpse of an exciting ideological churn in America.

In India, we have taken interest in Mamdani’s victory because of his India connection. But we should take an interest in American politics regardless of an India angle because the profound battle for the country’s soul is a once-in-a-lifetime story.

The defining feature of America’s national politics is nearly a decade old. On the surface, it has looked like a fierce ideological contest between conservative and liberal politics.

But in substantive terms, it has been about the rise of Donald Trump and his control of the Republican Party and the disarray of the Democratic Party in terms of both ideology and leadership after the Obama presidency. However, recent developments have set off a genuine ideological churn on both ends of the political spectrum, which has the potential to produce a real contest of ideas and policies.

On the right, there is growing concern that Trump has been co-opted —or compromised— by America’s deep State establishment, a force that ensures status quo in the power structure regardless of the party or person in office. His comfort with America’s super rich billionaires, his unqualified support for Israel, and reports of his family businesses benefitting from the presidency are seen to be a betrayal of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement.