Imagining a Socialist New York

History shows that such leaders offload resentment onto their enemies.

New York City is poised to elect Zohran Mamdani, a self-identified democratic socialist, as its next mayor. Mamdani has run a sophisticated campaign based in part on his intersectional identity as a Muslim immigrant and in part on promises cherished by progressive whites.

Mamdani’s policy proposals are wrapped in slick advertising and catchy slogans, suc…