Loyal Opposition: Difference between revisions

 

Eric Weinstein views '''“Loyal Opposition”''' as a normative ideal in which dissent occurs within the boundaries of shared legitimacy and democratic commitment, rather than rejecting or delegitimizing institutions outright. He argues that in contemporary U.S. politics, no party currently functions as a true loyal opposition because both sides tolerate radical or revolutionary elements that undermine mutual constraints. He places himself in the role of a loyal opposition to his own “side,” criticizing its excesses when they stray from foundational values like meritocracy, decency, free speech, and institutional integrity. He insists that “loyal opposition” involves resisting extremes within one’s own faction, preserving institutional norms even while contesting power, and cultivating epistemic humility so that disagreement doesn’t collapse into delegitimization.