The Mamdani moment is saturated with symbolism: A young progressive American with Indian and African roots has victoriously asserted his social democratic politics in the world’s financial capital. It is too early to tell if the election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York portends a larger, fundamental shift in American politics. However, it does afford an opportunity to get a glimpse of an exciting ideological churn in America.

In India, we have taken interest in Mamdani’s victory because of his India connection. But we should take an interest in American politics regardless of an India angle because the profound battle for the country’s soul is a once-in-a-lifetime story.

The defining feature of America’s national politics is nearly a decade old. On the surface, it has looked like a fierce ideological contest between conservative and liberal politics.

But in substantive terms, it has been about the rise of Donald Trump and his control of the Republican Party and the disarray of the Democratic Party in terms of both ideology and leadership after the Obama presidency. However, recent developments have set off a genuine ideological churn on both ends of the political spectrum, which has the potential to produce a real contest of ideas and policies.

On the right, there is growing concern that Trump has been co-opted — or compromised — by........

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