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It is generally agreed that fascism was expansionist, primarily because of the events leading to the Second World War. The one real world experiment with fascism led the main fascists states to conquer their neighbors. It is a small sample size so there are people who argue that fascism is not necessarily expansionist. Franco’s Spain had no territorial ambitions. The same was true of Salazar’s Portugal. The counter there is that these two examples are products of their unique history.
Communism, in contrast, was expansionist and explicitly so. Marxist theory assumed that communism would transcend national borders and national identity. The Bolsheviks expanded on this assumption to argue that the advanced industrial states would move to communism first, then help the backward states to industrial and socialize, by exporting revolution to those states. While communism did not advocate conventional wars of conquest, it advocated ideological wars of conquest.
In these debates, there are three main defining issues. One is the ideological nature of the political system. Both fascism and communism were ideological, in that both revolve around a set of beliefs or philosophies. Communism was the better defined of the two, owing to the deeper intellectual tradition. It also had a theory of history that provided something like a divine purpose. The national character of fascism also limited its ideological scope compared to communism.
That brings up the second defining issue. The reason fascism was less expansionist than communism is universalism. Fascism was rooted in national identity, which by definition limits its exportability. Some countries would simply lack the national character for fascism. Communism, in contrast, was universal. It assumed that all people were naturally egalitarian and possessed the same potential. Further, communists argued that inequality between peoples was due to capitalism.
The third defining issue is the revolutionary character of the systems. Fascism was revolutionary only in so far it was a revolt against modernity. In this regard, it was more revanchist than revolutionary. Fascists wanted to restore a lost past in order to gain a lost future. Communism sought a direct break from the past in order to move into the next phase of history. The revolutionary impulse of fascism was limited while revolution was a defining feature of communism.
Using these three scales, it is easy to see why communism was unabashedly expansionist and fascism was debatably so. In fact, communism cannot exist without some new ground to conquer, while fascism is at least capable of operating within national boundaries as a good neighbor. Every communist country has been a nuisance to its neighbors, while we have examples of fascist countries like Spain and Portugal that managed to behave themselves.
When it comes to liberal democracy, there is not much debate about the expansionist impulses of the system. It is assumed that since this system eschews state violence, it eschews conquest in the conventional sense. There is also the claim that democracies do not go to war with one another or launch wars in lieu of negotiated settlement, so it is not expansionist by nature. Liberal democracies are dragged into conflict by illiberal systems that only understand force.
Yet, when we look at liberal democracy in practice, using the three scales to measure the expansionism of other ideologies, liberal democracy looks every bit as expansionist as 20th century communism. The United States, the epicenter of liberal democracy, has been at war for over a century. In fact, the reason for the past tense when speaking of fascism and communism is the United States conquered these two systems in the name of liberal democracy.
Liberal democracy is the most ideological political system ever conceived. It shares the same intellectual traditions as communism, but has become much more narrow over the course of time. Unlike communism, which assumed economic justice would solve the moral questions, thus ending the need for politics, liberal democracy assumes it has solved the moral questions. Liberal democracy is a set of cultural truths about which it tolerates no debate or dissent.
Of course, this assumes a degree of universalism that the communists would have found challenging. Fascists, of course, found the egalitarian claims of liberalism to be absurd and dangerous. Fascism was as much a revolt against liberalism as communism, because of the egalitarian nature of both systems. Liberal democracy combines egalitarianism and the blank slate to make claims about the human condition that no political system has ever entertained.
This is what makes liberal democracy the most revolutionary system of the three ideologies to compete in the last century. Absolute egalitarianism and the blank slate makes mankind limitless. It turns the vanguard into gods who can shape humanity to fit the needs of the ideology. Fascism was a revolt against modernity. Communism was a revolt against the past. Liberal democracy is a revolt against nature, specifically the natural limits of the human animal.
In the three measures of fascism and communism that defined their expansionism, liberal democracy exceeds them. This explains why liberal democracy, after having defeated fascism, quickly declared war on communism. Once communism was defeated, it declared war on the world. Fukuyama’s claim that liberal democracy was the final answer to the great ideological debates of the Enlightenment was not an observation, but a warning.
We see this in Ukraine. National interest should have led all parties to the negotiating table to sort out the problems in Ukraine. In fact, the conditions that led to war should not exist, but the expansionist impulse of liberal democracy created many of the conditions that led to war. It is the stated desire of the liberal democracies to conquer Russia that is keeping the war going. Russia, having shed revolutionary communism, is now at war with revolutionary liberal democracy.
The brewing war with China over Taiwan is another example of the expansionist impulse of liberal democracy. The Taiwan issue could be negotiated, but Washington likes to use Taiwan as a provocation. The radar system that it has installed in Taiwan is part of the explicit nuclear threat against China. The war with Russia is now being used as justification for further provocations. Washington has said that Beijing is next when it comes to regime change.
The very fact that the phrase “regime change” exists at all is a good example of the expansionist nature of liberal democracy. The fascists never expressed any interest in how other countries did politics. The communists were all about exporting revolution to other countries in order to alter their political orientation. We see the same thing with liberal democracy. It first exports the cultural goods of liberal democracy and then begins the color revolution process to effect regime change.
It is a big topic that deserves a deeper analysis, but on the surface it is quite clear that liberal democracy is the most revolutionary, expansionist and intolerant ideology to emerge from the 20th century. The limited expansionism of fascism triggered a war in Europe then world war. The explicit expansionism of communism plunged the world into a forty year cold war. The hyper-violent, revolutionary expansionism of liberal democracy now promises something far worse.
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Well after total success in cleaning up Afghanistan and regime change in Syria why not move on to the quick work of asserting total dominance over Russia and China.
What are they going to do, destroy our economy or nuke us?
A new manifest destiny baby!
4
That’s the plan according to at least one analyst. Prepare for GAE to mutate into full blown Leviathan:
https://theupheaval.substack.com/p/the-world-order-reset?s=r
His analysis seems reasonable. (I have no idea how close his estimate of Russian capabilities are to the truth.) His analysis assumes that there isn’t a nuclear holocaust or a global financial crisis. I would add that GAE needs to avoid a revolution and civil war as well. This seems manageable with somewhat competent leadership pulling the levers of power. The face of leadership can, of course, be a dementia patient or a literal dumb whore.
To steal a page from the Commies’ book, both fascism and communism had a detailed analysis of the economic “base” that undergirded the cultural and ideological “superstructure.” Liberal democracy conspicuously lacks this analysis… but it doesn’t lack an economic base, and if there’s hope, it lies there — all the murderous silliness of liberal democracy can only exist with effectively limitless, cost-less energy, which in turn relies on the petrodollar.
The Clowns in the Swamp are all-in on MMT. They don’t think big depressions are possible anymore. If they’re right, the GAE can continue blustering and threatening and fighting to the last Ukrainian / Taiwanese. If they’re wrong…
5
Hope to avoid nuclear disaster lies in two places. One is the Europeans revolting against economic hardship forcing their leaders to break with Washington on Ukraine. The other is Russia not wanting global war.
4
When does Russia turn off the oil and gas to Europe? That would bring things to a head.
3
The shutdown already seems to be happening in a piecemeal way as some countries are refusing gas for rubles.
You also see a lot of countries trying to buy re-exported gas, which is effectively massively increased demand for a limited supply. This will price some former customers out.
No help is forthcoming from North Africa, which lacks the capacity and the desire to assist Europe. That makes perfect sense due to their long running historical grievances and the reality Europe is well on its way to becoming northern North Africa.
you don’t think there is a military faction that will step in should the cabal decide to go “all in”?
By definition everything American is now fascism. We have a few gargantuan corporations working hand in hand with a Government we can’t see to control every narrative to the point it’s safe to say everything told by the official organs is a flat out lie.
This Deep State system run by our Cloud People are also very expansionist. You either do it our way or we will destabilize and destroy your country. How many times has America done this to a nation since 1945?
And now we have hit the wall against a country whose policy is to burn the world if they’re going to be destroyed. None of this will end well for us, but at least Washington D.C. will become crispy critters with a few shadows burnt into any surviving slabs of concrete.
6
1
while i do not wish for nuclear war, it will remove 90+% of the evil people from this country.
Outstanding essay today z.
However, with news that the Supreme Court will likely over turn Roe v Wade, I’m sure most here are anxiously awaiting the left’s shrieking hysterics that are about to unfold. Things are about to get lit.
5
You didn’t think that the Dems were going to let the 2022 elections be about the economy, inflation and immigration, did you? The GOP is stupid enough to let them make it all about abortion.
4
The fact the doc got leaked so the judges could get intimidated into backing down shows where we are as a nation. If the GOP was smart, which they aren’t, they would deflect everything by saying the Left wants to threaten justices.
Of course, the rabid left would nod and agree, but it would absolutely demolish any moral high ground they had.
3
MikeCLT: Spot on. Perfect distraction, perfectly designed to attract the blue hairs, the saggy-boobed old womyn, and all the super-smart college girls (of whatever putative ideological persuasion). The evangelicals and conservatards will eat this up and their brainless, monomaniacal focus will be front and center with the media.
1
Well, it’s interesting, I’m not sure how to look at it as a dissident. Your thought crossed my mind. This will energize the left and create a demon that will radicalize the hive into their shenanigans in November. Just look at the leak itself. Some member of the hive working as a clerk for one of the justices clearly unethically leaked it to the press. This shows how hive members see higher morality as serving their cause rather than following rules of a system. This will always be the case, and the conservatives can’t understand this.
HOWEVER, there’s another way to look at it. For years, conservatives have finked on their Christian voter that have consistently voted in representatives based on this issue. Con inc has waved this like a red handkerchief in front of a bull. Finally, they have given their voters what they want, which could certainly revitalize the Christian base. As unlikely as it may seem, maybe the right is growing a set of balls. Time will tell.
1
The Roe v Wade play really is a political masterstroke by the Left, even if it is a few months early.
They’ve managed to direct attention away from all their failures and get their base fired up all with one simple leak.
The Right gets very little from this. Heck, overturning RvW is going to remove purpose and funding from orgs committed to fighting that specific issue.
At best, some of the RvW energy and funds could be redirected into pushing back on gun control, but that is not guaranteed.
It’s too bad we can’t corral all the Left scriptwriters into writing for pro wrestling. That way they could still practice their craft without destroying Western society.
I’m not sure I will chase that squirrel. If the court overturns Roe, nothing of any import changes.
2
not for most of us but it will animate the crazies. Might just be it’s intention.
Of course you won’t. You’re not a retard. But a good portion of the GOP and Conservative Inc. will.
and that will deflate their covid and ukraine efforts. in the end, all three efforts will fall short. the cabal shot their wad with covid, the normies are still in covid refractory period and are nowhere near ready for another go-round. this is what thrashing looks like…
The United States has made war on every major nation (and lots of minor ones) on earth except for two: France and Brazil. Republican governments always evolve into empiricisms, which we have done. You can see where the centrifugal force of our ruling elite is headed. My guess is that it has finally met its match in modern Russia, which possesses the kind of modern weaponry that can sink our aircraft carriers, the symbol of projected American power worldwide. All it will take is the destruction of one of these behemoths before you see our naval officers in a revolt against the insanity of the Ruling Class.
3
Reminds me of the classic Futurama quote: “I say the whole world must learn of our peaceful ways – By force!”
Liberal Democracies get their moral hegemony by taking well-known words and deconstructing them to mean something generations ago would not even fathom. People living in the 1800’s would look at you with horror if you said access to smut was a fundamental human freedom, regardless of your personal moral preferences on the matter. They would also be confused that our libertine society would allow that in the name of freedom, but then turn around and talk about how hate speech was not protected speech.
At a certain point, the words become an incoherent mess to the extent that they can’t point to anything in reality they actually relate to, and the ruling class are reciting what are essentially Lewis Carroll nonsense poems to each other.
This started a long time ago, one of the most agregious examples when the Department of War became Department of Defense after WWII, and we proceeded to get ourselves involved in clearly aggressive foreign entanglements.
10
Ah, she’s built like a steakhouse but handles like a Bistro!
In the last paragraph ZMan states: “It is a big topic that deserves a deeper analysis”. Probably true, but in the preceding paragraphs there is as insightful and succinct explanation as I can recall reading regarding the nature and tendencies of liberal democracy, fascism, and communism.
Long time since reading Fukuyama’s claim about liberal democracy and the end of history, but seemed to me it was his observation – and a positive one at that. However, in light of current events and the maniacs currently at the liberal democracy control panel – perhaps a better interpretation is that of a warning.
1
“Fascism was a revolt against modernity. Communism was a revolt against the past. Liberal democracy is a revolt against nature, specifically the natural limits of the human animal.”
This would work well on a coffee mug.
7
“Liberal democracy is a revolt against nature, specifically the natural limits of the human animal.”
The guiding principle of clueless Americans everywhere, the most fervent of these true believers are Conservative Republicans. “We’re all the same!” is spewed from the commenters of Gab, Truth, Breitbart, Fox, ZH and everywhere in between. You bump into these left-wing radicals calling themselves ‘patriots’ everywhere.
So long as people across the political spectrum believe in the lie above they will fall for every radical idea that the left can cook up, from perverts in the ladies room to groomers in the classroom. There is no defense or freedom for our people until that nonsensical idea is destroyed.
5
The, “Ah don’ see cullah!” crowd.
They’d better start.
1
I’m going to take issue with one of the premises in today’s post, namely that liberal democracy destroyed Ukraine because of an altruistic desire to enhance its people’s lives via the indoctrination of liberal ideology (expansionism). That may be the bullshit facade that Western politicians use as a smokescreen to camouflage their real motivation, but it belies a more sinister reality that underlies all Progressive actions.
Ukraine is rich in natural resources that can be exploited by outsiders in overt acts of theft. Furthermore, Ukrainian politicians are easy to bribe which makes the exploitation process simplistic and efficient. Many Western politicians (most particularly the Biden Crime Family) have been raping Ukraine blind for over a decade now and don’t want to give up the grift. They are so committed to this bloodsucking that they will fight via remote control until the death of the last Ukrainian. There is no nobility in US/NATO actions in Ukraine. It is criminal rape of a poor backward nation motivated by the cruel greed of oligarchs operating out of the US and Europe.
At some point, the disease cells must be expurgated or we all go down with the ship.
7
I agree with this criticism although for somewhat different reasons. While it is obvious a primary objective is economic and to steal Ukrainian resources, this is not the animating goal.
We are witnessing what I call “Woke imperialism.” This is self-explanatory to a degree, but if not, think of this as a crusade to expand transgenderism and similar psychosis to the world. It is every bit as evil and dangerous as communism, if not more so, and even more unhinged. The fascists and to an extent even the communists apprehended this Western sickness and wanted to stop it.
We are very close to nuclear war because Karen feels uncomfortable chemically and physically castrating her so if Karens in Moscow and Kiev and Beijing cannot do the same. All deranged ideologies end in fire and death.
To be clear, I do not disagree greed and old-time imperialism for fun and profit are cynically manipulating the sick folks in the West, but the latter is more important than the former in what is happening.
2
I did not say or imply that “liberal democracy destroyed Ukraine because of an altruistic desire to enhance its people’s lives via the indoctrination of liberal ideology”. Liberal democracy seeks to conquer the east. Ukraine is just a pawn on the board.
well i think the altruistic facade of liberal democracy is just the “sheepskin”. the people who subscribe to this doctrine are demonstrably monsters in every way, even to each other.
2
Mussolini was modern
Atheist modern art
Breaking of tradition
Invading 🇫🇷 🇬🇷 Yugoslavia Ethiopia
1
i was going to comment that italy wasn’t expansionist, that germany (in its fascist phase) was sui generis due to mustache man.
Italy conquered Ethiopia and Albania prior to the war and occupied Greece. Several more countries were invaded and absorbed by Mussolini during the war.
If the noise about the Supreme Court overturning Roe / Wade is true this is great opportunity for some smash-mouth ideological warfare. I have suggested this before and I think its a good time to repeat it, frame the enemy as the party of baby-killers. Make it their label, they are trapped and have to wear it. It’s a golden opportunity to capture the emotional sub-rational mind of the average person and inspire visceral revulsion and righteous anger. The enemy is the party of baby-killers and pedophile groomers. It’s both profoundly true and profoundly potent in its potential. Do not scruple to use this verbal weapon due to any personal thoughts about abortion’s effectiveness as a eugenic tool. Think of how useful the nazi label has been for the enemy in radicalizing opposition to conservative political efforts and scaring off normal people who would otherwise likely have been inclined to support them openly. To the average person what lengths would not be justified in opposing baby-killers and pedophile groomers?
5
You don’t hang around suburban white women much, do you?
This is THE issue for them. It’s not even about the actual act of an abortion to them. It’s about women’s freedom in their minds. It’s every mean, overbearing male character in every book, movie and TV show that they’ve watch over their entire lives rolled into one.
The women won’t care about you calling them baby-killer. In fact, it will make them even more devoted to their cause. You’re “mansplaining” to them if you bring up anything about abortion. For suburban women, the “right” to an abortion is nothing less than preventing the subjugation of women – all women.
Are they insane to think this? Yes. Doesn’t matter, it’s how they view the world.
3
Yes it is, and that’s why it’s long past time to bring them to heel. “No, Eve, put the fruit down and resume your rightful place in Creation.” If this SCOTUS brouhaha is the touch paper that begins the Great Bitch Slapping, so much the better.
It won’t happen. This was leaked months early to pressure a Justice or two to reconsider. That, or pack the court before November.
This dirty tricks move has Obama stink all over it.
SCOTUS is a ridiculous “institution” anyway, and needs to go. Let them beclown themselves in a mud fight.
1
But, but we have to make the world safe for muh democracy. This (former) country has never been dragged into conflict, other than perhaps WW2 imo, and even that’s suspect as we were applying extreme economic hardship on Japan. Our leadership has always made a conscious decision to stick our nose in for one “reason” or another. But mostly, we’ve instigated those conflicts ourselves, because we’re the sainted, blessed and moral US of A and we sit upon the right hand of God (actually the devil) don’t you know.
1
Isn’t, “regime change,” just the modern, PC version of, “manifest destiny?”
1
“Regime change” really gives the game away. Shocked they use it with such openness.
“We’re the US, and we will openly undermine your government using every means at our disposal”.
China is listening. As is every aspiring nuclear power.
If “liberal democracy” truly gave us “regime change”, it’s as dangerous as communism ever was, and for exactly the same cancerous reasons.
The Abolitionist streak in America is alive and well.
Helpful analysis.
What makes ‘liberal democracy’ so dangerous is that it has no aim or end-point (having abandoned the utopian goals of communism); but is continually evolving more and ever more; ever less common-sensisical/ anti-natural/ dysfunctional demands.
In other words; liberal democracy deliberately makes chaos from order, destroys capability and inverts morality – on principle – and then calls whatever results ‘good’.
This is why liberal democracy is causing increasing global disorder despite its basis in power and capability being advanced in decline. It is just so much Easier to destroy order and induce chaos, than it is to create stability and capability.
This seems to be illustrated by the current conflict – where one side wants to make a functional buffer state; but liberal democracy is quite happy to contemplate (and work towards) the annihilation of an entire region and its population.