By Michael Kelman Portney

In America’s complex racial landscape, conversations around identity and representation are crucial, yet the way these topics are framed can sometimes deepen divisions rather than promote unity. For the Democratic Party and for America as a whole, one potential pathway forward is to subvert traditional identity-based narratives by downplaying explicit racial rhetoric. By focusing instead on universal themes that resonate across racial lines—such as economic justice, healthcare, and educational opportunities—the Democratic Party can achieve meaningful racial progress in a way that is inclusive and unifying.

Drawing insights from the principles of subversion as seen in The Art of War and Foundations of Geopolitics, this paper explores how downplaying race in messaging could strategically advance racial equality. Through a subtler approach, Democrats can foster a broader coalition, promote policy outcomes that benefit all marginalized communities, and foster solidarity based on shared interests.

1. Understanding the Power of Subversion in Promoting Racial Unity

Subversion, as described in The Art of War, involves indirect and often unexpected strategies to achieve one’s objectives. For Democrats, using subversion to achieve racial progress means reframing the conversation in ways that prioritize commonalities, downplay surface-level divisions, and foster trust and solidarity. While discussions of race remain essential, subversion allows these issues to be integrated into a broader, more universal narrative that appeals to the widest possible audience.

A. Reducing Racial Emphasis to Strengthen Collective Identity

The approach of downplaying racial distinctions is not about ignoring issues of race but about embedding these concerns within a broader narrative. When Democrats shift their focus to universal themes like economic opportunity, healthcare access, and educational equality, they appeal to core values shared by people across racial backgrounds.

Creating a Shared Sense of Purpose: By highlighting issues that affect all working-class and marginalized Americans, Democrats can foster a collective identity that transcends racial lines, creating solidarity around shared struggles rather than emphasizing differences.

Building Broad-Based Support for Racial Equality: Instead of explicitly discussing race, Democrats can focus on structural reforms—such as job training, housing, and healthcare policies—that disproportionately benefit marginalized communities without directly framing them as “racial” issues. This subtle approach can reduce defensiveness and resistance among some audiences.

B. Leveraging Subtlety to Achieve Racial Goals

In Foundations of Geopolitics, Dugin discusses the use of ideological influence to guide populations without overt control. Democrats could take a similar approach by subtly embedding messages of inclusion and equality into broader narratives that don’t explicitly center on race but implicitly advance equality.

Embedding Racial Justice in Universal Policies: Instead of presenting policies as specific racial remedies, Democrats can focus on universal programs—such as raising the minimum wage, expanding access to affordable housing, and improving healthcare—that address systemic inequalities across all demographics.

Promoting Policies that Address Racial Inequities without Naming Them: For example, Democrats can advocate for funding in under-resourced schools, which often benefit communities of color, while framing the issue as a universal need for educational equality.

2. Fostering Economic Unity as a Basis for Racial Progress

One of the strongest unifying factors in American society is economic concern. By emphasizing economic unity and equity, Democrats can create policies that promote racial progress without isolating or alienating certain groups. The focus on economics allows Democrats to build a coalition that includes a wide array of demographics, making it easier to push through reforms that ultimately benefit communities of color.

A. Making Economic Policies the Common Denominator

Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of finding shared interests that align allies. For Democrats, economic justice can serve as this shared interest. Addressing issues like wage inequality, affordable healthcare, and educational access allows the party to appeal to people of all racial backgrounds, creating a strong base for advancing racial equality without framing it as a separate issue.

Highlighting Economic Justice as a Unifier: When Democrats promote policies like affordable healthcare and a living wage, they address core issues that affect working-class and minority communities alike. This approach positions economic progress as the foundation of racial progress.

Reducing Perceived Divisions Through a Shared Economic Agenda: By making economic issues the focal point, Democrats can create solidarity across racial lines, helping to reduce the sense of “us versus them” and emphasizing common goals.

B. Using Economic Benefits to Achieve Racial Progress

Economic policies that address systemic inequities can disproportionately benefit marginalized communities, which are often economically disadvantaged due to historical and structural racism. By focusing on economic improvements for all Americans, Democrats can make progress on racial issues without explicitly framing them as such.

Economic Empowerment as Racial Empowerment: Policies like improved job training, business grants for low-income areas, and expanded healthcare access will naturally benefit communities of color, helping to reduce racial disparities in income and opportunity.

Building Cross-Racial Coalitions for Economic Change: By focusing on economic policies that resonate across racial groups, Democrats can attract support from diverse communities who may not prioritize racial issues but care deeply about economic security.

3. Projecting Inclusivity through Cultural and Ideological Messaging

In Foundations of Geopolitics, Dugin highlights the power of ideology and cultural influence to unify people under a common identity. For Democrats, this means promoting a vision of America where every citizen—regardless of race—is treated with dignity and respect. By downplaying race as a central issue and focusing instead on shared values, Democrats can shape a cultural identity that feels inclusive and welcoming to all Americans.

A. Emphasizing Shared Values and American Identity

Framing issues of equality within the context of shared American values creates a powerful narrative. By emphasizing themes like freedom, opportunity, and justice, Democrats can make their message of equality feel integral to American identity, appealing to a wide audience without centering on divisive racial rhetoric.

Defining Equality as an American Ideal: Presenting equality and opportunity as American values rather than specific racial goals helps to create a sense of pride and unity. This approach can appeal to voters who may not resonate with overt racial discussions but support the idea of equality.

Framing Unity as Strength: By promoting the concept of a united, inclusive America, Democrats can create a sense of collective strength that transcends racial divisions. This ideological framing makes equality an inclusive rather than divisive pursuit.

B. Leveraging Media to Reinforce Unity over Division

Dugin emphasizes the importance of using media to build ideological narratives. Democrats can use digital media, social platforms, and entertainment to spread messages that celebrate diversity as part of a shared American experience, subtly promoting racial progress without isolating racial issues.

Promoting Stories of Common Struggles and Triumphs: Highlighting stories of Americans overcoming adversity and working together in diverse communities can foster empathy and break down stereotypes, reinforcing a sense of common humanity.

Avoiding Polarizing Racial Language in Messaging: By downplaying racially specific language and emphasizing the universality of the issues Democrats seek to address, the party can create a message that resonates broadly, creating a foundation for racial progress without alienation.

4. Using Subversion to Address Systemic Inequities

The concept of subversion involves working within existing structures to change them from within. By advancing policies that systematically address racial inequities without explicitly labeling them as racial, Democrats can create a foundation for long-term change while appealing to a wider range of Americans.

A. Implementing Policies That Target Structural Inequality Subtly

Policies that address wealth gaps, education funding, and healthcare inequities often benefit marginalized communities without needing to focus on race explicitly. This approach allows Democrats to achieve racial progress without fueling defensiveness or division.

Improving Education for All as a Step Toward Racial Equality: Increasing funding for public schools, particularly in low-income areas, benefits students across racial lines, indirectly addressing racial disparities in educational outcomes.

Expanding Affordable Housing Options: By advocating for affordable housing, Democrats can reduce residential segregation and improve conditions in low-income areas, promoting racial integration without focusing on race itself.

B. Building Long-Term Foundations for Equality

By focusing on universal issues that affect racial minorities disproportionately, Democrats can create lasting improvements for marginalized communities while appealing to the wider public. Over time, these universal policies can address systemic inequities without polarizing voters.

Reducing Economic Inequality as a Path to Racial Justice: Income inequality disproportionately affects communities of color. Democrats can use economic policies that benefit the working class to create financial stability and opportunities for advancement within marginalized communities.

Promoting Healthcare Access as a Human Right: Expanding healthcare benefits and addressing disparities in medical access will support better health outcomes for communities of color while framing the issue as a universal right.

Conclusion: Subversion as a Strategy for Inclusive Racial Progress

Using subversion to downplay explicit racial rhetoric and instead focus on shared economic and social goals provides Democrats with a powerful, unifying approach to achieve racial progress. This strategy allows the party to address systemic inequities subtly, building broad-based support for policies that disproportionately benefit marginalized communities without centering race in a way that could provoke division.

Guided by principles from The Art of War and Foundations of Geopolitics, Democrats can shift the narrative to one that emphasizes unity, inclusivity, and the common struggles faced by all Americans. Through policies and messaging that focus on economic empowerment, educational access, and healthcare, Democrats can build a coalition of support that is diverse, resilient, and committed to true equality. This approach fosters a movement for racial progress rooted in shared values, subtly building solidarity and trust while achieving meaningful change.