The New Discourses Podcast with James Lindsay, Episode 118
One of Mao Zedong’s most famous pieces is a short command from 1937 titled “Combat Liberalism.” Contrary to what many conservatives would have us believe, Communism is not the completion of liberalism but one of its mortal enemies, the fruit of a Leftwing, Romantic Reaction to the Enlightenment. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the program offered by the reactionaries who misunderstand both liberalism and Communism holds many of the same grievances against liberalism as Mao did 85 years ago. That’s because post-liberalism is post-liberalism, whether it comes from the Left or the Right. In this episode of the New Discourses Podcast, host James Lindsay goes through Mao’s short essay to make this simple point clear. Join him to learn why these demands for post-liberalism, Left and Right, aren’t so different from one another after all.
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5 comments
It is so depressing to see so many people with “some” legitimate knowledge, get into subjects far over their heads… and react by taking on a messiah-like behavior. This is Lindsay.
Lindsay is totally lost in the weeds!
Though outside of the scope of the presentation, the real question is which brand of illiberal thought is closest to taking over the US government. Since I see the danger of each brand as being equal, true liberals (a tiny minority) need to be strategic and do what they can to prevent a worst case scenario.
Since Victor Orban’s Hungary is an example of illiberal democracy in action, the presentation could have spent a little time discussing the mechanics of how Mr. Orban was able to succeed. Similarly, it might also be useful to discuss how leftist illiberals operate in a few big American cities.
The American meaning of “liberalism” as left wing has caused no end of confusion. Classical or English Liberalism derives from Locke and Mill and is all about individualism and freedom. It is the clear opposite to the collectivist Left (Marxism) and the collectivist Right (Fascism, reactionary religion, and Nationalism)
Fascism is not now,nor has it ever been “right wing” that is the great lie told by the left in a classic case of projection.They are embarrassed that fascism grew out of early 29th century political thought and seek to cast it out.