WASHINGTON — As debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) continue to divide the nation, the Progressive Policy Institute (PPI) has released a new report, “A Way Out of the DEI Wars,” authored by Richard D. Kahlenberg, Director of PPI’s American Identity Project. The report examines the flaws in existing DEI programs, the illiberal backlash against them, and outlines a new, unifying vision for promoting equal opportunity and civic belonging in American institutions.
PPI, the think tank that helped Bill Clinton successfully reposition the Democratic Party at the political center 35 years ago, is now calling for Democrats to abandon unpopular and divisive DEI policies. The new report argues that while the goals of diversity and inclusion are laudable, the current approach has fueled political polarization, alienated working-class voters, and curtailed freedom of thought in schools and colleges.
In place of these policies, which PPI says are tearing the country apart, the report calls for a return to the foundational principles of historic civil rights and civil liberties movements: treating people as individuals rather than members of racial groups, fostering open debate instead of ideological conformity, and providing real pathways to social mobility for economically disadvantaged and working-class Americans of all races. The proposed framework, “Integration, Equal Opportunity, and Belonging,” offers a pragmatic alternative to both DEI excesses and the Republican response, which has often been equally illiberal, marked by sweeping bans on discussing race and punitive measures against higher education.
“DEI, as currently implemented, has alienated working-class voters, enforced ideological conformity, and too often ignored economic inequality,” said Kahlenberg. “At the same time, the backlash against DEI has frequently veered into book bans, limits on free speech, and attacks on diversity itself. This report charts a third way — one that promotes opportunity and integration without ideological coercion or racial preferences.”
Key findings from the report include:
The report argues that both Democrats and Republicans must move beyond the current DEI wars. Instead of entrenching racial preferences or banning discussions of race, policymakers should embrace policies that expand economic opportunity, promote free speech, and foster a common civic identity.
“Americans overwhelmingly support fairness, free expression, and opportunity,” said Kahlenberg. “What they reject are programs that treat people as members of racial categories rather than as individuals, or efforts to erase discussions of real inequities in our history. Our approach recognizes both the need for inclusion and the importance of shared American identity.”
Read and download the report here.
In the face of growing attacks on democratic values, increased polarization, and declining patriotism, the American Identity Project aims to help educators teach young people the anchoring shared values that define what it means to be an American. Read more from the American Identity Project at www.progressivepolicy.org/project/american-identity-project/.
Founded in 1989, PPI is a catalyst for policy innovation and political reform based in Washington, D.C. Its mission is to create radically pragmatic ideas for moving America beyond ideological and partisan deadlock. Learn more about PPI by visiting progressivepolicy.org. Find an expert at PPI and follow us on X.
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Media Contact: Ian O’Keefe – iokeefe@ppionline.org
