<p>In the US, Critical Race Theory (CRT) and similar concepts have become (for different groups) valued ideals as well as targets of hostility in so-called culture wars. These concepts have been used with approval in initiatives by activist groups (often led by significantly “non-white” coalitions) aiming to challenge elite, primarily “white” domination against racially defined US communities. Those communities include black, latinx, and indigenous populations. But arguably, identity politics in some forms has indeed appeared in “white” nationalist initiatives. Manifestations of conflicts about identity politics are occurring in legislative attacks on educational and research agendas in universities, and other contexts. This paper argues that addressing such conflicts over the functioning of universities can be part of a coherent strategy to further racially egalitarian justice and multi-racial democracy. The strategy may or may not succeed, but is plausible in the possibilities it projects. It will have to deal with pressures on universities from the outside, such as regressive politicians and donors, but also elements on the inside, such as some faculty aligned with unexamined regressive traditions. Perhaps oddly, there are some signs of partial support for identity politics progressives by elements in corporate hierarchies, hierarchies surprisingly now sometimes denounced as “woke” by some politicians supporting white identity politics. How such corporate support for progressive identity politics may develop is unclear There are reasons for skepticism about its reliability. Probably much more support for progressive identity politics will need to come from mobilization of populations that are currently subordinated, and their allies.</p> <p> </p>
