‘Woke’ Education—Then and Now

 György Lukács’ Marxist educational agenda did not succeed in Hungary but is influential in the West, affecting elite institutions through ideological adherence and cultural breakdown. Stephen Soukup explores the impact of Lukács, a lesser-known Communist thinker after World War I. Originally, the war should have ended Marx's theories, as workers, instead of uniting, went to fight for their nations and families, weakening Marx's beliefs in class consciousness and the working-class uprising.

Despite the war's devastation to Marxism, a few of its supporters attempted to reshape his image. Antonio Gramsci called for a cultural revolution in Italy, while Lukács in Hungary developed ideas on how people's consciousness is disconnected from society. This led to the establishment of the Frankfurt School in Germany, which would become a foundation for Cultural Marxism.

Unlike other Marxist Revisionists who only spoke of cultural changes, Lukács had lived through it, actively participating in Hungary's Soviet Republic as an education and culture commissar. He promoted controversial educational content aimed at young people, encouraging rebellion against traditional family structures, morality, and religion.

Joanna Williams, a British author, recently discussed the connection between education and voting behaviors in Europe and the U. S. , noting that increased education has led to more left-wing voting. She highlighted how education systems have become politicized and focused on changing values rather than transmitting knowledge. Subjects like Citizenship and Sexuality Education are reshaping children's perspectives away from historical and cultural roots.

Over recent decades, Williams argued, Western education has moved from providing knowledge to imposing specific values that align with elite beliefs, which often reject traditional Western morals. Success in education now relies on students' ability to conform rather than critically evaluate teachings, such as the concepts taught in Sexuality Education.

Ironically, the Hungarian Soviet Republic collapsed shortly after its establishment, yet Lukács' educational philosophy endured and has influenced Western educational systems. He ultimately died in a state of disillusionment, having been mocked by fellow Communists upon his recantation of his ideas after the Soviet crackdown on the Hungarian revolution in 1956. Today, while conservatives in Hungary regard Lukács disparagingly, his educational methods are still upheld in many Western institutions, despite his legacy being largely unrecognized in historical discussions.

https://amgreatness.com/2025/02/01/woke-education-then-and-now/