The Anti-Woke Expert: “We Are Witnessing The Fall Of The UK & The USA!” - Konstantin Kisin

Intro (0s)

• Countries may perceive the pursuit of freedom as a weakness and exploit it. (7s)
• Embracing ideologies like wokeness can lead individuals to prioritize a set of beliefs over seeking truth. (31s)
• The promotion of victimhood can have detrimental effects on individuals and society. (46s)

Who Is Konstantin Kisin? (2m11s)

• Konstantin was born in the late Soviet Union, lived through its collapse, and witnessed the rise of modern Russia. (2m18s)
• He moved to the UK to attend boarding school after his family became wealthy and later lost their wealth. (2m48s)
• He co-hosts a podcast called Trigonometry and recently published a book titled “Immigrants Love Letter to the West”. (3m2s) (4m16s)

The Threat Coming To The Western World (5m49s)

• Most civilizations are not destroyed by outside forces, but rather by self-inflicted cultural suicide. (6m3s)
• A significant threat to Western civilization is the pervasive idea that Western society is inherently bad due to its history of slavery, colonialism, and exploitation. (6m22s)
• The West's preoccupation with internal divisions and arguments over social issues is perceived as weakness by other global powers, who are capitalizing on this perceived vulnerability. (7m18s)

Are You Politically Affiliated To The Left Or Right? (7m33s)

• It is stated that societal and cultural well-being are of importance, and that neither the political left nor right consistently holds the correct approach. (7m45s)
• It is suggested that political labeling is frequently employed as a tool to discredit opposing viewpoints. (8m39s)
• The potential pitfalls of adhering to rigid ideologies are highlighted, emphasizing the importance of independent judgment and a commitment to truth over tribalism. (9m12s)

People Use Politics Labelling As A Weapon (10m7s)

• People use political labels as weapons by associating individuals with extreme viewpoints held by others they have spoken to. (10m30s)
• Attributing complex phenomena like Brexit solely to racism is overly simplistic and ignores the multifaceted reasons behind such events. (11m23s)
• Engaging in conversations with individuals holding diverse viewpoints, even those considered controversial, can lead to accusations of bias and refusal from others to participate. (11m49s)

What Is Wokeism? (12m16s)

• Wokeness, initially a self-compliment within activist groups around 2014, signified an awakening to systemic disadvantages faced by certain groups, particularly related to race and intersectionality. (12m22s)
• Over time, "woke" became an insult, used to criticize those perceived as fixated on trivial issues, detached from reality, and prioritizing narratives over facts. (13m28s)
• Woke culture is characterized by the promotion of victimhood, creating a hierarchy of oppression that judges groups based on their perceived historical disadvantages, leading to a simplistic and divisive view of society. (13m45s)

How Victimhood Has Become Self-Harm (16m48s)

• People's perceptions and expectations shape their experiences, leading them to see what they anticipate, even if it's not actually present. (17m9s)
• Teaching people to view themselves as victims can be detrimental, as it can create a self-fulfilling prophecy where they perceive and experience more negativity, hindering their resilience and potential. (18m48s)
• The "scar experiment" demonstrated how pre-existing beliefs about having a facial disfigurement led individuals to perceive discrimination during job interviews, even though the disfigurement had been removed without their knowledge. (19m37s)

Stereotype Threat (20m44s)

• Stereotype threat is a phenomenon where individuals perform worse on tests when reminded of a negative stereotype associated with their group. (21m18s)
• Well-intentioned programs designed to help specific groups can inadvertently reinforce negative stereotypes and create a sense of disadvantage. (23m9s)
• Social media can exacerbate societal issues by promoting actions that appear virtuous but lack real-world impact and can even be counterproductive. (25m38s)

The Need for Role Models (28m49s)

• The speaker found inspiration in various role models, including Sir Richard Branson and Jamal Edwards. (28m56s)
• Jamal Edwards, a successful young black entrepreneur, served as a powerful example, demonstrating that background and circumstances should not be barriers to achievement. (29m8s)
• Observing individuals like Edwards who had overcome challenges to achieve success helped the speaker to reject limiting beliefs and excuses. (29m38s)

The Impact Of Your Name On A Job Application (30m5s)

• Studies show that job applications with names typically associated with certain races are less likely to be successful. (30m10s)
• There are many forms of discrimination, such as heightism, particularly against men, with taller men being more likely to be CEOs and presidents. (30m36s)
• Individuals have the opportunity to make the best of their situation, regardless of the challenges they face, and should focus on thriving rather than succumbing to victimhood. (32m34s)

Gen Z vs Millennials (33m34s)

• Feeling understood and validated might not necessarily lead to tangible improvements in one's life, such as increased income or business success. (33m36s)
• While acknowledging that individuals may experience victimization and trauma, therapy emphasizes personal growth and overcoming challenges rather than dwelling on oppression. (33m58s)
• Life necessitates accepting past experiences, both positive and negative, and using them as opportunities for personal development and progress. (34m26s)

Are You Hopeful For Gen Zs? (34m29s)

• Gen Z has an advantage over previous generations because they have easy access to information and can learn new skills quickly. (34m58s)
• Gen Z in the workplace can have a disproportionately grandiose view of their role and importance. (35m16s)
• Gen Z has faced the unique challenge of growing up with smartphones, which could have long-term negative consequences. (36m7s)

The World Is Heading In The Wrong Direction (36m31s)

• The speaker feels conflicted about the future, being personally optimistic but pessimistic about the state of the world. (36m32s)
• The speaker believes that Generation Z has faced challenges due to the parenting and disciplinary structures imposed on them. (36m54s)
• Despite the challenges, Generation Z also has access to significant opportunities. (37m0s)

Countries Debt And Who Will Impact The Next Generation (37m7s)

• Western Civilization, one of six major civilizations in the world, has been the dominant force for centuries. (37m28s)
• As Western Civilization weakens, particularly from within, other powers like China and Russia see an opportunity to challenge its dominance and establish a multipolar world order. (38m0s)
• This power shift and the resulting instability are likely to lead to increased global conflict, as evidenced by events like the war in Ukraine and the Hamas attack on Israel. (39m34s)

Who's Brainwashing Us? (39m44s)

• Western countries are facing significant economic problems, with the biggest issue being the high levels of national debt. (40m1s)
• This debt represents a broken intergenerational contract, where current generations are unwilling to sacrifice for future generations, leading to borrowing from the future and increasing deficits. (40m16s)
• Despite claims that mass immigration boosts the economy, GDP per capita is falling, indicating that future generations will be poorer than the current ones. (41m16s)

What Is Marxism & Does It Work At A Society Level? (41m59s)

• Marxism, an ideology developed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, posits that human society can be understood through the lens of oppression, with the oppressors being those who own the means of production and the oppressed being the workers. (42m30s)
• While acknowledging the historical abuses of the Industrial Revolution, the speaker argues that communism, while potentially functional at a family level, is unsustainable at a societal level due to inherent human self-interest, necessitating force and resulting in widespread death as seen in Soviet Russia and Communist China. (43m22s)
• The speaker contends that Western Marxists, recognizing the failure to incite a Soviet-style revolution among the working class, shifted their focus to race-based Marxism, exploiting societal divisions and aligning with movements like the sexual revolution to promote the idea of oppression based on factors like race, gender, and sexual orientation. (46m2s)

The Division In The West (47m22s)

• Foreign entities, including Russia, have been engaging in disinformation campaigns for decades to sow discord and destabilize Western societies. (47m58s)
• These campaigns often involve funding and amplifying the voices of individuals and groups that already hold divisive views, rather than trying to promote specific candidates or policies. (49m19s)
• The goal of these campaigns is to create confusion and distrust, making it difficult for people to discern truth from falsehood and eroding faith in democratic institutions. (52m1s)

How Do We Stop This Division? (53m25s)

• Social media algorithms often prioritize engagement over nuance, rewarding extreme opinions and discouraging balanced discussion. (53m36s)
• While aligning with a specific viewpoint may garner more support, there is an audience that values nuanced and balanced perspectives. (54m27s)
• Personal values and goals should guide content creation, prioritizing critical thinking, truth-seeking, and gratitude for the positive aspects of Western societies. (55m20s)

What's The Impact Of An Agnostic Society? (55m51s)

• Religion provided values and anchored society. (55m55s)
• The decline of religion has led to a lack of meaning, purpose, guidance, and discipline in society. (57m40s)
• Islam is appealing to young Western men because it offers discipline, structure, reward, community, and allows men to be strong and confident. (1h0m4s)

Why Men Love Combat Sports (1h1m36s)

• Men are drawn to activities like bodybuilding and combat sports because they offer socially acceptable outlets for masculinity. (1h2m18s)
• The popularity of combat sports, particularly the UFC, can be attributed to the desire to witness and celebrate traditional masculinity in a society where it is often suppressed. (1h3m25s)
• The current societal climate may be pushing men towards limited and potentially unhealthy expressions of masculinity. (1h3m48s)

The Solution For Men's Issues (1h3m52s)

• The solution for men facing issues such as suicide, loneliness, and depression is to focus on self-improvement, skill development, and seeking guidance. (1h4m1s)
• Men are less likely to receive sympathy or support when they are victims compared to women. (1h4m20s)
• Men are considered biologically disposable from an evolutionary perspective, which explains why there is less empathy towards them. (1h4m35s)

Is The Woke Culture Putting Men In This Situation? (1h5m13s)

• Political correctness and cancel culture are viewed as tools used to put men in difficult situations. (1h5m19s)
• Wokeness is criticized for creating divisions between men and women, emphasizing differences rather than recognizing the importance of collaboration and mutual support. (1h5m56s)
• Acknowledging biological differences between men and women is presented as a taboo subject, despite the evident differences in strengths, inclinations, and societal roles. (1h7m45s)

We Need To Call Men Back In (1h9m32s)

• It is important to call out toxic men, not all men, in the same way that not all women should be generalized based on the actions of a few. (1h9m46s)
• Good men throughout history would have prevented people like Harvey Weinstein from acting in the way he did. (1h10m13s)
• Generalizing about an entire group of people is considered a bad thing to do, and this should apply to men as well. (1h10m41s)

The Free Speech Movement (1h11m2s)

• Free speech is a weapon that people use against opposing viewpoints, which is why neutral parties are necessary to advocate for free speech regardless of who is in power. (1h12m11s)
• Social media companies, while not necessarily politically biased themselves, often appease the loudest voices calling for censorship. (1h13m49s)
• While some degree of censorship may be necessary to prevent the spread of misinformation, the balance between free speech and censorship has not yet been found. (1h17m52s)

Freedom Of Speech But Not Of Reach, Is It The Best Solution? (1h17m57s)

• All solutions involve trade-offs, and accepting this makes it easier to understand that perfect solutions are unlikely. (1h17m57s)
• The concept of "freedom of speech but not freedom of reach" is suggested as a potential solution to harmful content online, acknowledging that it is not ideal but may be the best compromise. (1h18m30s)
• Social media is still a relatively new phenomenon, and finding solutions to its challenges will take time and experimentation. (1h19m1s)

Will The West Be Dominant In The Next 10 Years? (1h19m8s)

• The speaker believes that the West will remain dominant for the next 5, 10, or 20 years due to its significant accumulated advantages. (1h19m15s)
• The speaker uses the Roman Empire as an example of a great civilization that eventually came to an end, emphasizing that the current inhabitants of Italy are not the same as the people of the Roman Empire. (1h19m58s)
• The speaker suggests that great civilizations end when their people are no longer willing to fight for their future. (1h20m6s)

What If China Or Russia Become The World Power? (1h20m11s)

• A decline in living standards is predicted if Western countries become secondary to China or Russia. (1h20m18s)
• Western values, such as human rights and equality, may diminish if China or Russia become the dominant world power. (1h20m41s)
• To preserve Western values, individuals should educate their children about the benefits of living in a society that values freedom of expression, research, speech, capitalism, private property, the rule of law, and human dignity. (1h21m52s)

Getting Arrested For Stuff Posted On Social Media (1h23m33s)

• Some people believe that individuals are arrested for social media posts only if they say something egregious, but this is not always the case. (1h24m5s)
• There are instances where individuals have faced legal repercussions for expressing controversial viewpoints or sharing content that, while potentially offensive, might not be universally considered criminal. (1h24m19s)
• Restricting freedom of speech, even when it involves unpleasant or offensive language, can be a slippery slope and may not be conducive to a free society. (1h26m22s)

Does The US Election Matter? (1h26m43s)

• The upcoming US election is important because the US is a powerful country and the leader of the Western world. (1h26m52s)
• The upcoming election is also important because there is a significant difference between the candidates' political views, what they would do with the country, their perspectives, and their attitudes. (1h26m57s)
• Every US election is important. (1h26m50s)

The US Candidates And The Woke Culture (1h27m10s)

• It is unclear which 2024 US Presidential candidate would be better at dealing with the "woke virus" as both candidates have viewpoints that could be interpreted as woke. (1h27m16s)
• The war in Ukraine is a significant issue that needs to be resolved, and the speaker believes the outcome of the war will be a test of the West's resolve. (1h27m49s)
• The speaker believes that former US President Donald Trump would be more likely to successfully negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. (1h29m55s)

Taxing Rich People More (1h31m11s)

• The UK has a poor business environment, leading to more millionaires leaving than any other country. (1h31m37s)
• Wealthy, successful people often reinvest their money into their businesses, creating more jobs and opportunities. (1h33m5s)
• Hungary has reduced its abortion rate by half by providing financial incentives for families and helping them get on the housing ladder, rather than banning abortion outright. (1h35m2s)

The Immigration Situation In The US (1h35m20s)

• The United States has a long history of welcoming immigrants from around the world. (1h36m24s)
• Illegal immigration is a problem in the United States, Britain, and other European countries. (1h36m31s)
• Many immigrants to the United States are now entering the country illegally through the southern border, rather than through legal channels. (1h37m23s)

What's The Harm Of Immigration? (1h37m41s)

• Illegal immigration is harmful because it undermines the legal immigration system and disregards the laws established by elected officials. (1h37m50s)
• Allowing illegal immigration can lead to increased spending on housing and other resources for undocumented individuals, potentially straining public funds. (1h38m57s)
• High levels of illegal immigration can be exploited by criminals, terrorists, and other dangerous individuals, posing a threat to public safety. (1h40m4s)

Are People Crossing The Borders Statistically Causing More Crime? (1h40m34s)

• It is unknown if immigrants statistically commit more crime than people who are in the country legally because the number of immigrants in the country illegally is unknown. (1h40m35s)
• Practical solutions to immigration issues involve setting up refugee processing centers in local areas where turmoil is occurring. (1h43m15s)
• Illegal immigration should not be happening, but legal immigration can be beneficial if the number of immigrants is controlled and they are culturally compatible, driven, talented, and ambitious. (1h48m47s)

Trade-Off Denialism (1h49m50s)

• Trade-off denialism is the denial of the need to make trade-offs, acting as if every problem can be solved without considering potential downsides. (1h49m57s)
• An example of trade-off denialism is the approach to climate change; while aiming to reduce emissions, policies can negatively impact people's lives, particularly in developing nations, by hindering economic growth and access to energy. (1h50m20s)
• Increased life expectancy and improved living standards are attributed to fossil fuels, exemplified by India's life expectancy rising from 32 in 1947 to 71 today, largely due to economic growth fueled by energy consumption. (1h50m47s)

The Solution For Climate Change (1h51m53s)

• Global warming is real, and humans contribute to it, but it is not the catastrophe it is often portrayed to be. (1h52m9s)
• Climate change-related deaths are decreasing due to technological advancements that aid in coping with climate events. (1h52m40s)
• The solution to climate change is technological and involves increasing the use of nuclear power to make energy cheaper and cleaner. (1h53m2s)