Asad Haider and the Debate Over Identity Politics: A Leftist Critique and Legacy

Early life and academic career

Asad Haider was a scholar of political theory who served as an associate professor of politics at York University in Toronto. He co-founded Viewpoint Magazine, a publication aimed at reinventing Marxism for our time. His work extended into influential political essays for outlets such as Salon, The Baffler, and n+1, shaping a new generation of leftist discourse that grappled with race, class, and power.

Mistaken Identity: Race and Class in the Age of Trump

Published in 2018 by Verso Books, Mistaken Identity: Race and Class in the Age of Trump argued that identity-centered organizing had limits when confronting the more fundamental injustice of economic inequality. The book emerged as a focal point during a period when youth-sourced enthusiasm for socialism surged alongside the two presidential campaigns of Bernie Sanders, highlighting a clash within the left about priorities and strategy.

Influence and publications

Haider’s ideas resonated beyond academic circles, influencing activists and scholars who sought a framework that tied anti-racist and anti-sexist work to a broader critique of capitalism. His co‑founding of Viewpoint Magazine and his contributions to major outlets helped spark ongoing debates about how to translate theory into practice in a changing political landscape.

Death and correction

Haider died on Dec. 4 in Toronto from injuries after a fall from an apartment building; his twin brother, Shuja Haider, stated that police had ruled out foul play. A correction published on Jan. 3, 2026 clarified that he was an associate professor, not an assistant professor, at York University at the time of his death. Trip Gabriel, a Times reporter on the Obituaries desk, reported these details and contextualized Haider’s critique within the broader debate about identity and economics.

His legacy invites readers to examine how identity-based movements intersect with economic justice, challenging us to consider strategies that address both immediate social harms and the structural forces of capitalism. By situating identity questions within a broader class analysis, Haider’s work remains a touchstone for discussions on how to build a more equitable society.