'Cultural Marxism' is a conspiratorial agenda alleged to determine Western culture. This hence appears to represent an 'adapted' form of Marxism. It is a common bête noire in entrenched alt-right groupings.
It can hence seem akin to a mere over-dramatic accusation using 'Marxism' as a pantomime villain, therefore a form of merely continuing prejudice around the Cold War and Marxism. However, speaking of a 'cultural Marxist establishment' is not altogether misled. As 'Marxism' has taken on a form more in keeping with 'establishment' liberalism, it has also tended to avoid 'dry' economic issues in favour of 'cultural' and social justice issues favoured by liberalism. It would be valid to remark that this is not 'Marxism' in a strict sense, and is more akin to a variant of liberalism. However, this also raises the question of how and why Marxist categories are quickly repurposed to serve the agenda of the powerful liberal elite.
The term 'cultural Marxism' can seem like merely a generic conservative slur. That is a possible use. However, there are many summaries of 'cultural Marxism' which attempt to draw more clear parallels and carefully compare the two. This kind of comparison does reflect a form of politics that has taken root in the establishment, a recapitulation of 'Marxist' categories in the context of a focus on demographic groups and liberal politics. In that sense, 'cultural Marxism' often overstates the influence of 'Marxist ideology' in upholding the mores of Western capitalism. This is often done in order to repeat simplistic Cold War archetypes. However, it is nonetheless true that a 'cultural' and demographic-focussed use of Marxist tropes and rhetoric has come to entrench itself somewhat in the Western liberal establishment.
