Business and Politics

POLITICS: BACKLASH ON DEI AND INTELLECTUAL INEQUALITY

by Vinta Nanda February 19 2025, 12:00 am Estimated Reading Time: 5 mins, 0 secs

As right-wing governments dismantle Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, they push societies into intellectual and economic stagnation while the privileged elite monopolize AI-driven opportunities, deepening global inequality and injustice. Vinta Nanda explores…

The attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) by right-wing governments is more than just political rhetoric—it is a deliberate effort to hinder progress, suppress marginalized communities, and consolidate power among the elite. As AI and automation reshape the global economy, those in privileged positions continue to benefit from emerging opportunities, while millions are left behind due to regressive policies restricting education, gender equality, and workplace inclusion. This strategic dismantling of DEI is creating a growing divide where the few thrive in an AI-driven future while the majority remain trapped in economic and intellectual stagnation. The real danger is not “wokeism” but a manufactured backwardness that ensures long-term inequality.

In recent years, right-wing governments across the world have launched a full-scale attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), labelling it “woke” and dismissing it as a radical, leftist ideology. This conflation of DEI with so-called “wokeism” is not just misleading but actively harmful, particularly as the world stands at the precipice of a technological revolution driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI), automation, and digital globalization.

While these governments discourage progressive social policies and restrict access to equal opportunities, the elite class continues to exploit these transformations, securing power, wealth, and influence. The result is an engineered societal divide where the privileged few benefit from the AI revolution, while the majority are pushed into economic and intellectual backwardness through regressive policies that hinder progress.

The Manufactured Backlash: How DEI Became a Political Scapegoat

Before unpacking why the attack on DEI is dangerous, it is crucial to clarify what it truly represents. Diversity ensures that individuals from different backgrounds—regardless of gender, race, caste, class, disability, or sexual orientation—have equal access to opportunities. Equity recognizes that historical disadvantages must be addressed to ensure a level playing field for everyone. Inclusion fosters environments where all individuals feel valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully to society.

DEI is not a threat; it is a framework designed to strengthen societies and economies by utilizing the full spectrum of human potential. Historically, societies that embraced inclusivity and equal opportunity—such as post-war America during the Civil Rights Movement or Europe in its push for gender parity—saw significant economic and social progress. Yet, today’s right-wing governments are rejecting these principles, branding them as dangerous elements of “woke culture.” This deliberate distortion serves an insidious agenda.

The vilification of DEI as “wokeism” is not an accidental misunderstanding but a carefully crafted strategy. Right-wing populists have redefined “woke” to mean anything that challenges traditional power structures—be it feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, labour rights, or racial justice. By doing so, they create a false enemy to rally their voter base, particularly among conservative, working-class, and rural populations who are struggling with economic and social instability. Instead of addressing rising unemployment, AI-driven job displacement, or the decline of traditional industries, these governments blame progressivism and DEI for societal problems.

AI and the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Who Wins and Who Loses?

We are currently witnessing the fourth industrial revolution, led by AI, automation, and digital transformation. In this new world, jobs that traditionally required human labour are rapidly being replaced by AI. STEM fields, digital entrepreneurship, and knowledge-based industries are shaping the global economy. Remote work, automation, and data-driven innovation are reshaping employment patterns. Those with access to high-quality education, digital literacy, and flexible career opportunities will thrive.

The question that arises is who is being prepared for this shift? Right-wing governments that are dismantling DEI programs, cutting funding for inclusive education, and restricting gender and racial diversity initiatives are ensuring that only a privileged elite benefits from the opportunities AI presents. Meanwhile, women, marginalized communities, and youth from lower socio-economic backgrounds are deliberately left behind. By rejecting DEI principles in education and employment, these governments create a generation of workers who are unprepared for the future, thereby ensuring their continued economic and social subjugation.

It is no coincidence that the very governments opposing DEI are also pushing for nationalist, religious, and conservative education models over modern curricula. They are dismantling social welfare programs that could help marginalized groups transition into tech-driven careers. They are opposing gender diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion, ensuring that workplaces and leadership roles remain dominated by traditional power holders. They are suppressing labour unions and worker rights, preventing employees from fighting for fair wages and job security in a changing economy. The masses are kept economically insecure, technologically unskilled, and socially divided, making them easier to manipulate through cultural and religious rhetoric.

How Right-Wing Policies Are Trapping Future Generations

Meanwhile, the richest 1%—those funding right-wing campaigns and benefiting from tax breaks—are investing in AI start-ups, digital transformation, and global financial markets. They are capitalizing on progress while actively depriving the rest of the population from accessing it. The most tragic outcome of this ideological war is the stolen future of young people. Instead of equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge required to thrive in an AI-driven world, right-wing governments are forcing them into outdated education models, rigid gender roles, and an economic system that will leave them behind.

We are seeing bans on discussions around gender, sexuality, and race in schools—ensuring a generation grows up misinformed. Progressive voices in media, academia, and the arts are censored, creating an intellectual vacuum where only state-approved narratives exist. As AI reshapes the global job market, these backward policies are trapping millions of young people in cycles of low-wage labour, underemployment, and social stagnation.

The attack on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a smokescreen. The question remains: will we allow ourselves to be manipulated into backwardness, or will we demand a future where everyone has a fair chance to succeed?