Hope and Change
Hope and Change: Is Zohran Mamdani a communist, as Donald Trump claims? More likely, he is like Godot from Samuel Beckett’s play—someone people wait for, but with uncertain results. In fact, Mamdani calls himself a democratic socialist. This is different from Europe’s social democrats. Moreover, his supporters see him as a socialist with his own style, similar to China’s “socialism with Chinese characteristics.”
Mamdani and History
To understand Mamdani, we need to look at history. He is not the radical threat Karl Marx predicted in 1848. At that time, Marx’s ideas scared European elites. Consequently, they responded harshly, and their influence lasted for decades. Leaders like Churchill, Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, McCarthy, Reagan, Thatcher, and Zia created systems to block equality movements. In South Asia, elites also used religion and culture to challenge communism. Nevertheless, Marxist movements appeared in Russia, China, Vietnam, Cuba, and Kerala in India.
Unexpected Outcomes
At times, elite plans backfired. Like Frankenstein, they created unintended outcomes. For instance, Mamdani’s rise benefited from chaos on the right and anti-Netanyahu sentiment. As a result, his opponents weakened. In addition, the death of Charlie Kirk shook the American right and reduced Zionist influence in U.S. politics. These events indirectly helped Mamdani by opening a new political middle ground in New York.
Post-Cold War
History shows that the left and right can unite unexpectedly. For example, they came together in Iran in 1979 and India in 1977. Similarly, past leaders like Kennedy and Khrushchev cooperated despite tension. Meanwhile, Mamdani was born in October 1991, the year the Soviet Union fell. After the Cold War, leaders began calling democracy “free market democracy.” This reflected a global shift in politics.
Symbol of Hope
Finally, in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, Godot is deliberately ambiguous. He symbolizes hope, purpose, or a higher power. In the same way, this description can fit Mamdani—someone whose impact and role remain uncertain.
Published in Dawn, 11th November 2025
