The Crisis of Modernity and Liberalism, with the Fourth Political Theory and Eurasianism as the Solution
Aleksandr Dugin interviewed by Glenn Diesen
I spoke with Aleksandr Dugin, the influential Russian philosopher and political theorist, about his views on modernity, liberalism, the fourth political theory, and Eurasianism. Dugin is a fierce critic of modernity due to the excesses of individualism and reason (boxed off from the instinctive and spiritual), which distances mankind from its primordial and unbreakable connection with the pre-modern world that relies on collective identities, tradition, culture and religious faith. Dugin is especially critical of Western modernity as it was imposed on the rest of the world under the guise of universalism, which is seen as a destructive development as all civilisations should pursue their own path towards development. Dugin sees a crisis in Western civilisation as modernity and liberalism have exhausted themselves, which presents an opportunity for the rest of the world to embrace a different path to human development in which time and space are viewed differently. Within this context, Dugin developed what he refers to as a fourth political theory as an alternative political theory to liberalism, fascism and communism. The fourth political theory seeks to preserve the pre-modern by embracing collective identities, family, religion and other aspects of human nature neglected under modernity. Eurasianism is considered to be the main format for international cooperation and development in which civilisational distinctiveness and pluralism are prioritised, while universalist doctrines such as liberalism are rejected.
Dugin has many followers and many critics, although there should be an agreement that his influence implies there is a demand for alternative models. As centuries of Western dominance come to an end and the international economic infrastructure is reorganised under Eurasian institutions, it is worth exploring how some of the foundational ideas about mankind and civilisational development can be challenged in the post-Western world. Old sociological and philosophical discussions are subsequently reopened and political theories are questioned.
https://rumble.com/v5gafgt-crisis-of-modernity-and-liberalism-and-eurasianism-as-the-solution-aleksand.html?playlist_id=EVJWdivNKCs
V interesting, thanks for sharing Glenn. I don't pretend to follow all of his arguments, and I'd probably appreciate a read of his book(s).
Personally, I sit uncomfortably on this, as I am a hardcore Liberal who also sees the limits of Liberalism (And its dangers when taken too far without leavening), and also the necessity of spiritual, and/or traditional elements that have been cast aside.
Dugin seems not to have followed Graeber in seeing the basics of the Ideologies in normal social situations;
Leftism: How you interact with your friends in a social group;
Rightism: how you interact with authority and hierarchy;
Liberalism; How you trade with peers.
These will be true in all civilisations except totalitarian impositions.
Another point of disagreement I would have is the apparent claim that ONLY Liberalism as a Ideology seeks universalism and other forms of domination - both the Right - Nation, hierarchy, and the Left - Community, socialism, will also follow similar paths to universal imposition if taken too far. If the result of WW2 had been different, we would be seeing that now instead.
I grasp that for Dugin "Liberalism is the enemy", a huge, if understandable simplification considering Liberalism is the main force he has to overcome as he sees it.
Again, I wish I had read one of his books at least to better understand his arguments.
A society without ANY Liberalism however will be a hellscape.
One stunning irony is that the Eurasianism that he describes is almost a textbook example of traditional, pre-Modern Liberalism. Live and let live is about the most Liberal thing you can possibly say.
That this to some extent is no longer the case, is partly the fault of Liberalism's excessive success, but also unarguably due to Feudalism's re-enrtry under the rebranding "Neoliberalism". And the ruling elites increasingly frantic attempts to create chaos and social division to hide the theft of Public wealth from under their noses, and the destruction of the social compacts.
This appeared to be entirely missing from Dugin's analysis of "Liberalism", and that has huge ramifications.
But there's only so much one can cover in an hour's worth of conversation.
I get the feeling attempting a defence of Liberalism with Dugin would be a fools' errand, even from a Liberal that agrees with many of his core principles.
The way the Western media treated the assassination of the beautiful and extremely intelligent Darya was a harbringer of not only how Russians were to be considered, but also the later behaviours of Israel and its assassination programs.
It is hardly surprising that Dugin loathes the West and its never-ending hypocrisies and forked-tongues.
Excesses of reason?
Funny, if I was going to criticise modernity on that axis I'd be inclined to draw attention to its deficits of reason.