Highly credentialed, underemployed, and furious: Meet the DSA
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TL;DR
- Peter Turchin's elite overproduction theory posits that a surplus of credentialed, underemployed individuals can fuel social movements.
- Nate Silver's analysis suggests the strongest Democratic-voting demographic is graduate-degree holders earning $30,000-$60,000, aligning with the DSA's typical profile.
- The DSA's 2021 internal survey shows a median age of 33, high educational attainment, and incomes lower than expected for their credentials.
- Members often work in fields like teaching, academia, nonprofits, and tech, having followed higher education's path but finding diminished rewards.
- Demographically, the DSA is becoming less white and has a significant percentage identifying as non-binary and LGBT, while union membership and military service are low.
- Internal dynamics show a trend towards ideological homogeneity, with Marxist-Leninist factions gaining influence.
- Membership has seen dramatic surges, especially following President Trump's reelection, making the DSA the largest socialist organization in U.S. history, though sustained growth is uncertain.
- The DSA's success is concentrated in dense, urban areas, with growth within this narrow constituency being easier than expanding beyond it.