Andrew Jones

The misuse of cultural Marxism: A harmful trope

In recent years, the deliberate misuse of the term ‘cultural Marxism’ has gained disturbing traction in British political and cultural discourse. It has been used to attack everything from inclusive education to social justice movements, and to suggest that Britain’s institutions are being undermined by a hidden ideological agenda.

Commentators have observed that this narrative has been echoed in political debate and mainstream media commentary (Earle, 2023; Walker, 2020). The term also appears in right-leaning publications, where it is sometimes defended or normalised (for example, Spiked and The Spectator).

Yet this term is not merely a rhetorical flourish. Its misuse by others – outside the political and media ‘mainstream’ – is steeped in conspiracy thinking, antisemitism and historical distortion. For instance, it has been invoked to justify violent and antisemitic attacks by Anders Breivik, John T. Earnest and others (Fowles, 2021; Stone, 2019).

Whilst it is true that some academics have used the term to describe their own theoretical positioning (Dworkin, 1997), very few social theorists use it. You are more likely to come across the terms critical theory, Marxist cultural theory or the Frankfurt School in philosophy, sociology and cultural studies. The conspiratorial use of the phrase has little to do with serious theoretical debate or academic freedom.

Subsequently, its growing popularity as a conspiratorial insult must be challenged, especially in schools, before it becomes a gateway to more extreme and radical ideologies.

Furthermore, I feel I need to write this as some of my pupils have become interested in its more sinister configuration over the last few years (see below).

Not just a term: A repackaged conspiracy theory

Despite its academic-sounding name, ‘cultural Marxism’ is not a legitimate school of thought when used as a political accusation or personal slur. This use of the term has its origins in far-right ideology, tracing back to the Nazi concept of Kulturbolschewismus or ‘cultural Bolshevism’ – a theory that Jewish Marxists were corrupting Western culture. This narrative was revived in the late 20th century by American conservatives who accused intellectuals from the Frankfurt School of orchestrating a covert plan to erode Christian and Western values (Jamin, 2018; ADL, 2020).

The issue does not lie in the scholarly critique of ideology or culture, but rather in the conspiratorial repackaging of that critique into a simplistic and sinister narrative. This framing accuses so-called ‘cultural Marxists’ of manipulating society through media, education and politics, and it can implicitly — or at times explicitly — invoke antisemitic tropes by emphasising the Jewish heritage of some Frankfurt School scholars (Jay, 2011).

Members of the Frankfurt School had to flee Nazi Germany. One of their associated members, Walter Benjamin, took his own life when it looked like he had no way of escape. This seems lost on those in politics and journalism who like to use ‘cultural Marxism’ to attack progressives they disagree with.

British misuse: From fringe to mainstream

The term’s misuse is particularly concerning in Britain, where it has entered the political mainstream. Reporting in The Guardian notes that Jewish groups, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, condemned its use in political contexts because of its antisemitic connotations and associations with far-right extremism — even where such usage is not intended to be antisemitic (Earle, 2023).

As the Antisemitism Trust’s Danny Stone noted in The HuffPost, ‘”Cultural Marxism” can be used in various ways but more often than not, is now a code for Jewish conspiracy‘ (Stone, 2019). Therefore, when this phrase is invoked in political discourse, even without antisemitic intent, it can inadvertently amplify conspiracy theories.

As already emphasised, the far-right Christchurch terrorist and the Norwegian mass-murderer Anders Breivik both cited ‘cultural Marxism’ in their manifestos. That such a term is now echoed in Westminster and in sections of the British media is alarming (Miller-Idriss, 2020).

Even when references drop the explicit Jewish component, they often still recycle the underlying conspiracy that Marxists or ‘the left’ are infiltrating public and cultural institutions.

A danger to teachers and schools

One of the most troubling aspects of the term’s misuse is its infiltration into education debates. Accusations of ‘cultural Marxism’ have been weaponised to discredit diversity initiatives, critical race theory, LGBTQ+ inclusion and anti-racist teaching. These accusations imply that schools are complicit in a Marxist indoctrination plot, which not only undermines trust in educators but also fuels suspicion and fear among parents and communities.

This conspiratorial framing promotes an ‘us vs. them’ mentality and discourages nuanced discussion of social inequality, history and identity. Worse still, it primes pupils and young people to view social progress as a threat rather than a democratic ideal. Studies have shown that conspiracy theories act as a radicalisation pipeline, especially in online spaces where young people may first encounter the term (Ebner, 2020).

In my own role, which includes a pastoral remit, I have been called ‘too woke’ for sanctioning explicit racism and my colleagues have been labelled as ‘politically biased’ for criticising a somewhat infamous and self-proclaimed misogynist. Moreover, articles I have written on diversity and inclusion have led to accusations of ‘cultural Marxism’ and that I am a ‘crypto-Jew.’

Sadly, I have also had a number of pupils, albeit quite small, take an interest in the term. Their starting point is often YouTube, TikTok or other social media platforms. For me, it doesn’t matter how mainstream voices in the media or politics attempt to frame the term: the path it leads toward is not always a benign critique of left-wing politics, but its original antisemitic formulation.

Academic use is not the issue

To be clear, and as mentioned earlier, not everyone who uses the phrase ‘cultural Marxism’ is endorsing a conspiracy theory. In academic settings, the term has occasionally been used to discuss the development of critical cultural theory. Dennis Dworkin’s Cultural Marxism in Postwar Britain (1997), for example, uses the term descriptively to trace how postwar British intellectuals adapted Marxist ideas to analyse mass media and culture.

However, this scholarly usage is fundamentally different from deploying the term as a slur or insult. In academia, it is grounded in method, evidence and theoretical nuance. It is also quite rare, as I suggested above. When used as an accusation, however, it becomes a blunt instrument – devoid of context and dripping with ideological menace.

We must challenge the misuse – especially in schools

The misuse of ‘cultural Marxism’ must be directly addressed in public discourse and educational spaces. Allowing this term to circulate unchallenged – particularly when used to malign teachers, academics or inclusion policies – legitimises conspiracy theories and promotes intolerance.

If used by a pupil, we have a responsibility to find out why they used it, demystify the term, explain its origins and challenge its conspiratorial framing. This includes teaching pupils about the Frankfurt School as serious thinkers, not boogeymen, and encouraging evidence-based inquiry over fear-based narratives.

If left unchecked, the misuse of ‘cultural Marxism’ risks opening the door to far-right radicalisation, antisemitic scapegoating and democratic decay. Confronting this distortion is not political correctness – it is a defence of truth, education and civil society.

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