Democrats' Munich Meltdown Exposes Left's Intellectual Void

Lack of left-wing public intellectuals leaves politicians like AOC struggling with empty rhetoric and platitudes

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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The article argues that the American left has lost its intellectual giants like Noam Chomsky and Michel Foucault, leaving current politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gretchen Whitmer struggling to articulate coherent political positions. It suggests the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of critical race theory have contributed to the dearth of popular far-left, socialist intellectuals who could provide a robust intellectual framework for the modern progressive movement.

Why it matters

The lack of strong left-wing public intellectuals is seen as a major problem, as it leaves progressive politicians ill-equipped to defend their positions against criticism and potentially unable to effectively implement their policies. The article warns this could lead to the election of socialists "who literally do not know how to make things work."

The details

The article cites examples of incoherent and empty rhetoric from politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Gretchen Whitmer at the Munich Security Conference as evidence of the left's intellectual void. It argues the American right has a stronger core of intellectuals that can be drawn upon, while the left lacks contemporary socialist thinkers who could provide an intellectual foundation for policies like wealth redistribution. The article suggests the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of critical race theory, which it says has stifled intellectual discourse, are key reasons for the current lack of far-left public intellectuals.

  • In the 1980s, there was a galaxy of left-wing, even socialist, intellectual stars such as Noam Chomsky, Michel Foucault and Gore Vidal.
  • About a decade ago, the "Intellectual Dark Web" phenomenon emerged, with figures like Jordan Peterson and Bari Weiss who are broadly seen as right-leaning.

The players

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

A U.S. Representative and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, known for her progressive political positions.

Gretchen Whitmer

The Governor of Michigan, who apologized for being less well-versed in foreign policy than Ocasio-Cortez.

Noam Chomsky

A prominent American linguist, philosopher, and political activist, considered a key left-wing intellectual figure in the 20th century.

Michel Foucault

A French philosopher and social theorist, known for his influential work on power, knowledge, and the body.

Gore Vidal

An American writer and public intellectual, known for his progressive political views and criticism of the American political system.

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What they’re saying

“What we are seeking is a return to a rules-based order that eliminates the hypocrisies around when too often in the west we look the other way for inconvenient populations, to act out these paradoxes.”

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Representative (Munich Security Conference)

“Ukraine's independence, keeping their land mass, I mean, um, the support of all the allies, I think is the goal, from my vantage point.”

— Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of Michigan (Munich Security Conference)

The takeaway

The lack of strong left-wing public intellectuals has left progressive politicians like Ocasio-Cortez and Whitmer struggling to articulate coherent and substantive political positions, raising concerns about their ability to effectively implement their policies if elected. This intellectual void on the left is seen as a major problem that could have serious consequences for American politics and values.