Assistant Professor of Government and Research Fellow David Azerrad will present “Narcissism, Wokeness, and the Modern Left” in the Formal Lounge at 7 p.m. on Jan. 26.

Azerrad teaches at the Allan P. Kirby Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship in Washington, D.C., specializing in political topics that include classical liberalism, conservative political thought, and identity politics. 

“The premise of my talk is that conservatives do not really understand the left today in America because it is fundamentally different than the previous lefts in American history,” Azerrad said. “The contemporary American left is neither Marxist nor progressive. And it’s definitely not liberal. Although it incorporates elements of these older lefts, today’s left combines a narcissistic celebration of the self with a woke fetishization of victimhood to ennoble the former. My focus is really understanding the mind of the left.”

Mary Greco, undergraduate program coordinator for Hillsdale in D.C., said Azerrad will provide students with a better understanding of the current political environment in America.

“If any student is thinking about studying ‘abroad’ at the D.C. campus for a semester under the Washington Hillsdale Internship Program, they ought to come meet one of their professors,” Greco said. “Azerrad teaches Contemporary American Political Thought, a class that focuses on understanding what is happening in and to America today. The class changed my views entirely on economics, trade, foreign policy, feminism, and so much more. I could not recommend it enough.”

Hillsdale College students can register for the event on Handshake.