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At dinner tonight my (ex-Soviet) uncle expressed his deep concern at the political terror sweeping the US (and bleeding into other Western countries)
Pointed out a key difference between the Soviet Union and what is happening now:
Pointed out a key difference between the Soviet Union and what is happening now:
In the USSR, ideology was imposed from above.
Some functionary would show up to a workplace / class and dictate the truth. And it was all a bit of a joke. Usually, he wouldn't believe it either
There was the Party line, but everyone was in on the joke
Some functionary would show up to a workplace / class and dictate the truth. And it was all a bit of a joke. Usually, he wouldn't believe it either
There was the Party line, but everyone was in on the joke
Today, the purges are from below
Young ideologues who appear to genuinely believe the ideology and its maxims, independent to some central coordinating function
And for that it is much more potent. It is not done with a wink. It is joyless and earnestly bloodthirsty
Young ideologues who appear to genuinely believe the ideology and its maxims, independent to some central coordinating function
And for that it is much more potent. It is not done with a wink. It is joyless and earnestly bloodthirsty
On reflection, maybe just a function of revolutionary stage?
Early Bolsheviks were far more ideological / radical vs late USSR functionaries
Early fervent Jacobin Republicanism calcified into Imperial lip-service Republicanism
Revolutionary Zeal vs Mature Revolutionary Org
Early Bolsheviks were far more ideological / radical vs late USSR functionaries
Early fervent Jacobin Republicanism calcified into Imperial lip-service Republicanism
Revolutionary Zeal vs Mature Revolutionary Org
