I have been reading the highly anticipated and well received book by the American sociologist Musa Al-Gharbi called We have never been woke: the cultural contradictions of a new elite (Princeton 2023).

Al-Gharbi says that "woke" has come to describe an elite that uses the language of social justice to shore up their own privilege, rather than truly assisting the marginalised and disadvantaged (whose interests they claim to represent).

Superficially sympathetic to the idea, I am also now deeply distracted. This book was a product of a "situation normal" that no longer exists in the United States.

Is Al-Gharbi's thesis relevant when the world as we know it has been turned upside down and inside out over the past two weeks? We are trying to stay abreast of the unfolding dramas since January 20 and the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

The most powerful democratic state and Australia's closest ally is reeling from attempts to undermine the fabric of its society. We are in a situation of huge change and challenge and the outcomes cannot be predicted. It is not just the people of the United States that are affected, besides the obvious impacts on Canada, Mexico and China, this affects the whole world in which the United States has stood as the prime defender and promoter of democracy and freedom.

The workings of this complex democracy - the inviolability of the rule of law; the power of Congress, representative of the people, to steer the course of its administration; the centrality of the constitution to the United States; checks and balances of the President's and the Congress power - are all under challenge.

There's no going back to "situation normal".

It remains to be seen if this elite that AL-Gharbi recognised in his research now find a way to be activist. Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have been developed over decades have been abolished. Those employed in positions to progress the racial and gendered diversity of the workplace, to ensure equity in opportunities including hiring practices and the awarding of contracts, and to promote safe, inclusive workplaces for all people of difference, including those with disabilities, are now out of work.

I think the jury is still out on whether the "woke" ideologists serve an important role in a diverse democratic society. Will they save us?

What is Al-Gharbi thinking about this now?

Dr Victoria Grieves Williams is Warraimaay from the midnorth coast of NSW and an historian She was recently on the advisory committee of the Reconciliation Australia project "Recognising Community Truth Telling: an exploration of local truth telling in Australia"(2023). Dr Williams is active in truth telling research, process and practice through the concept of healing histories.