The origins of political correctness are often misunderstood, debated, and weaponized in modern cultural wars. But who actually invented this concept?
Table of contents
Early Historical Roots
Contrary to popular belief, the phrase was not manufactured in a modern university department. Historically, variations of the term appeared in legal and political discourse centuries ago. Notably, the US Supreme Court used phrases akin to “politically correct” in early 18th-century rulings regarding sovereignty and correct legal terminology.
The Marxist Connection
Many critics argue that modern political correctness originated within the Frankfurt School of critical theory in mid-20th-century Germany and later the United States. Thinkers like Herbert Marcuse analyzed how language, culture, and societal norms reinforced power structures. However, applying the specific label “politically correct” as a critique of dogmatic leftist language largely gained momentum decades later.
From Leftist Irony to Modern Lexicon
In the American political landscape of the 1970s and 1980s, the term was frequently used with a sense of self-irony by the political left to describe strict adherence to dogmatic platforms. By the 1990s, conservative commentators and media outlets redefined the phrase into a powerful weapon, labeling institutional efforts toward inclusivity and speech regulation as “political correctness.”
A Global Perspective
Views on this concept vary wildly across the globe. For instance, many cultural perspectives—such as the Russian viewpoint—tend to view Western political correctness with skepticism. In these contexts, directness is often prized, and the idea of monitoring everyday speech to avoid causing offense is frequently met with bewilderment.
Ultimately, political correctness has no single inventor. It is a constantly evolving social phenomenon shaped by decades of ideological debate over language and power.
