The seduction of the (once) antiwar Left
Notes on Neoliberalism, part 2
American neoliberalism, the dominant ideology of the powerful, has the distinction of being uniquely awful in every imaginable way.
As I stated before (in part 1), the neoliberal creed "combines the worst aspects of all possible political perspectives, rolls them into one, and imposes them from on high."
From the (mainstream) Right, neoliberalism adopts a thoroughly bellicose, aggressive, and warmongering foreign policy. Indeed, it is truly remarkable these days how so few liberals-- at least those of the "establishmentarian" stripe (which is to say, most of them)-- are now ever in any way critical of any action taken by governmental entities like the State Department or the military, or intelligence organizations— most notably and most egregiously the notorious CIA— when any of these groups engage in criminal behavior against citizens of other nations.
Indeed, for all of the hatred neoliberalism has towards Trump, the one time they praised Trump was the time when he bombed Syria. Suddenly, for the space of a most surreal few hours, the neolibs were actually thinking "Orange Man Good"! Then, of course, when the bombing campaign stopped, they went back to hating him again...
Today, Russophobia runs rampant amongst neoliberals. Indeed, when it comes to that dastardly race of Ivans and Borises, the neoliberals "out-hawk" the most hawkish of Cold War Republicans. I lived through the last two decades of the Cold War, and I can’t remember any conspicuous politician, actor, or other public figure advocating threatening the Russians with a preemptive nuclear strike. Yet movie actor Sean "Spicoli" Penn has done just that and more, and has received only tepid criticism for such irresponsible outbursts.
Nor is sourpuss Sean alone amongst the wealthy, powerful, and influential denizens and doyens of the neolib "elite," whether they dwell in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Washington DC, or elsewhere, who these days are endlessly thirsting for war, war, and more war against those pesky Russkis.
Anyone who wishes to negotiate peace in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is met with immediate suspicion and invective from the neolib-controlled media. (Again, this is not hyperbole. If you don't believe me, just watch what happens to any influential person who advocates for the cessation of hostilities in that conflict. Even the current--and mostly neolib-friendly-- Pope was dragged mercilessly for having the gall to decry NATO imperialism.)
What is most extraordinary, and most dismaying, is the fact that opposing irresponsible, dangerous, and immoral foreign policy, including the backing of coups and the rigging of foreign elections used to be almost the primarily calling card of the American liberal. Sean Penn wasn't a bellicose warmonger when the United States invaded Iraq back in 2003; in fact, like many liberals, he outspokenly (though alas, just as sanctimoniously) denounced that unjust and unnecessary war.
Liberals also, not too long ago, openly feted and celebrated Julian Assange and Wikileaks for exposing war crimes committed by US military personnel against Iraqi civilians. Today, as Assange rots in jail, the same liberals who once praised him to the hilt now roar for continued carnage in Ukraine, and cheer for the American military-industrial complex that they once detested.
Antiwar liberals have clearly been successfully seduced by neoliberalism, and have consequently betrayed their once most cherished principles. But they are hardly the only ones who have followed this pitiful trajectory.
(To be continued)
Andy Nowicki is the author of several books, most recently The Insurrectionist and Muze. Visit his Youtube channel.