Latest news with #anti-intellectualism
Mail & Guardian
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Noise over substance: The ANC Youth League is being strangled by slogans
If the ANC Youth League does not rise to this challenge, it risks becoming irrelevant in the society it seeks to change. In recent years, South African politics has been increasingly defined by spectacle, slogans and populist posturing — often at the expense of rigorous intellectual debate and critical policy thinking. A wider crisis of thought that jeopardises the fundamental underpinnings of democratic engagement and transformation is reflected in the rise of anti-intellectualism, particularly among youth political movements such as the ANC Youth League. Anti-intellectualism is not simply a rejection of formal education. It is disdainful of critical thinking, academic inquiry and informed debate. It manifests in celebrating charisma over competence, loyalty over logic and noise over nuance. Within the league, this trend is becoming dangerously normalised. Once a breeding ground for ideological sharpness and future leaders of substance, the ANC Youth League too often rewards militant soundbites and performative radicalism while sidelining young thinkers who seek to ground their activism in theory, research and long-term strategy. The roots of this crisis are complex. Years of institutional decay in the ANC have eroded the culture of internal political education. Once-vibrant debate forums, political schools and intellectual mentorship are weak or absent. The post-apartheid period demanded robust frameworks for reconstruction and development. However, opportunists skilled at populist rhetoric, rather than policymaking, have gradually taken over the political arena. Anti-intellectualism flourishes in this setting. Using feelings rather than facts enables leaders to evade responsibility. It turns serious issues like unemployment, inequality and land reform into rhetorical battlegrounds rather than sites of rigorous intervention. The league, which once counted thinkers like Anton Lembede and Peter Mokaba among its leaders, now risks becoming a parody of its former self — more comfortable with empty slogans than building a coherent vision for youth empowerment in a rapidly changing world. Worse still, the anti-intellectual turn has created a generational rift. Young South Africans who challenge the status quo from within — those who demand better schools of political thought, progressive research and ethical leadership — are often labeled as 'elitist', 'sellouts' or 'not radical enough'. This creates a toxic environment where mediocrity is rewarded and intellectual ambition is punished. The damage is not contained within youth politics. It permeates the larger political conversation. Debates in parliament are frequently reduced to trivial showmanship. Policy documents are either disregarded, poorly researched or plagiarised. Hashtags and viral outrage, rather than thoughtful consideration, shape public engagement. This crisis of thought is a national problem, undermining our ability to govern effectively, hold leaders accountable and foster democratic participation rooted in knowledge. There are exceptions — young activists, scholars and leaders pushing back against this trend by combining political commitment with intellectual rigour. However, they are often isolated, unsupported and swimming against the tide. Without institutional support for intellectual development within political structures — especially the league — they will continue to be marginalised. First, the league must reclaim its intellectual tradition. This means reviving political education with urgency and integrity. Long-term programmes that examine history, ideology, economics and international movements are preferable to workshops that are merely check-box exercises. These initiatives must push young leaders to consider the intricacies of change in a post-colonial, capitalist society and to look beyond catchphrases. Second, political leadership must stop treating intellectualism as a threat. South Africa needs a leadership culture that values thinkers, readers and researchers as much as it does activists and organisers. The binary between theory and practice must be rejected in favour of a synthesis that produces clarity of vision and effectiveness in action. Third, civil society, universities and independent think-tanks must step into the void. If political parties fail to create space for young intellectuals, other institutions must offer platforms for engagement, critique and public education. Democracy does not survive on votes alone — it survives on the circulation of ideas, the contestation of narratives and the evolution of political thought. Finally, young people must resist the pressure to conform to anti-intellectual norms. They must read, write, question and debate — not in isolated academic silos, but in the streets, community halls and digital spaces where the political is lived. To think critically is not to be less revolutionary. On the contrary, it is the most revolutionary act in a society starved of meaningful ideas. Our political institutions are fragile. Our economy is stagnant. Our youths are restless. We cannot afford a political culture that glorifies ignorance and punishes insight. The crisis of thought is not abstract — it has material consequences. It means policies that fail. Leaders who mislead. Movements that collapse. If the ANC Youth League does not rise to this challenge, it risks becoming irrelevant in the society it seeks to change. Nevertheless, if members can reclaim the power of intellectualism — rooted in justice, truth and revolutionary theory — they can become the vanguard of a new political era, one defined not by noise but by substance. Siyanda Kate is a PhD candidate (Political Studies) at Nelson Mandela University.
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
I like Aussies but there is one huge issue with your culture I just can't get past: 'Sorry if you're offended'
A Swedish-born former Australian resident in his 20s has made an observation about Aussie attitudes that has sparked a heated online discussion. The young man, who 'partially grew up' living and attending school in Queensland before moving back to Europe, shared his observation about the apparent lack of value Australians place on education and intellectual pursuits. Taking to Reddit, he shared his views in an 'Ask An Aussie' subreddit post titled: 'What is the cause of Australian anti-intellectualism?' 'I would like to begin by saying that I like Australia and Australians, and I hope I don't come across as offensive. This is just one aspect of Australian society,' he began. 'In my experience, people in Australia tend to not value education so much. 'When they do, it's usually because it leads to a higher-paying job. Knowledge for the sake of knowing is not really valued, the dominating idea being that education only matters if it can be capitalised on.' The lengthy post saw the man explain that he came to this conclusion after leaving Australia and moving back to Sweden, and later France. During his time attending school Down Under, the self-declared 'bookish' man said he 'often felt estranged from other students' on account of his thirst for learning. He added that he struggled to find like-minded 'people who were interested in literature, poetry and even politics'. 'Very few read books in their free time,' he added. The post concluded by asking Aussies to weigh in on this perceived anti-intellectual attitude and offer some explanations. The recent post quickly lit up with over 1,500 responses. Perhaps surprisingly, many were from Aussies who agreed with aspects of the original poster's sentiment. The reply that received the most upvotes surmised the issue as stemming from a broader Australian social attitude of wanting to fit in. The short but popular comment explained: 'In high school, it doesn't pay to be scholastic or otherwise different or you get mocked. Sad really, and this often carries forward into everyday life.' 'Too well spoken? Pronounce your words correctly? You might get bullied,' one replied. A different but related explanation was also suggested in regard to the value Australian culture places on sporting achievements. Many commenters highlighted that while academic prowess could sometimes be a source of ridicule during schooling years, Australian students were, however, encouraged to proudly excel at sports. One commenter said they were 'made fun of' at school for being 'studious and bad at sports'. Another raised the idea more broadly, writing in part that Australia 'prizes physical pursuits over intellectual ones'. However, many were at pains to explain that Australians do indeed hold value in the pursuit of education. The difference, however, is that many Australians are conscious not to show off for being 'too 'clue-y' or 'booksmart' because it projects an air of being 'an arrogant a***hole who is far too "up themselves"'. '[T]here's absolutely people around in Australia who enjoy intellectual pursuits, but keep low key about it,' read one reply. 'We have high rates of education, but we hate class distinction,' explained another response. 'If people feel like you are using jargon or bigger words than you need to, they will call you on it because they will assume you are putting on airs.' This also led to commentary about the pervasiveness of 'tall poppy syndrome' in Australian society, and how it discouraged those who were intellectually inclined from outwardly expressing these interests. 'I think a lot of Australian identity is shaped by the tall poppy syndrome and rebellion against elitism, which many Australians tie to intellectualism,' read part of one longer post. A financial argument also offered an interesting explanation for the perceived lack of value Australians place on a generalised pursuit of knowledge. 'Until recently you could get an extremely well-paying job in Australia with minimal, if any, education, mostly through mining. This led to a lot of people dismissing education as pointless, useless and expensive,' explained one commenter. Another agreed, writing: 'I've got mates without degrees or school-completion certificates who earn filthy money for mining companies, oil refineries etc.' 'The ability to earn money – lots of it – is valued much, much more highly than intelligence,' read part of another reply. But many commenters felt this attribute was actually something to 'love' about Australia, because it meant that 'unskilled workers can make good money and have a good life'. 'I think Australia tends to be fairly egalitarian,' one wrote. 'So in the same way we don't look up to intellectual jobs, we don't look down on trades or manual labour jobs.' To this point, even the original poster agreed that this was true of Australian society. Others pointed to the fact that while higher education was free in Sweden, in Australia university attracts huge fees, which has financial implications. 'Education is much cheaper in Europe. To get it here, you go into debt for a very long time. That means you need to get your money's worth,' one explained. 'Knowledge, for the sake of knowing, doesn't put food on the table or a roof over your head,' added another. Ultimately, many responders surmised that this perceived anti-intellectual attitude held by Australians was probably a result of a combination of the aforementioned factors. One response reflected: 'Intellectualism is considered 'navel-gazing' - sort of a self-indulgent waste of time. Others have mentioned tall-poppy syndrome, and I think that's partially true.' They concluded that this had created a feeling that 'non-productive' or 'non-capitalisable' styles of educational inquiry were 'frivolous'.
