“Under communism, the conceptual engine that animated the communist ideology was the idea of class struggle, supposedly fought throughout the entire history of humanity. In a liberal democracy, this engine—believed to have been present in the history of humanity since the beginning of time—is an improved version of the original. The Marxists had only “class” as an ideological leverage. In today’s liberal democracy the main ideological triad is “class, race, and gender.” RaceClassGenderCommunism Book:The Demon in Democracy: Totalitarian Temptations in Free Societies Source: The Demon in Democracy: Totalitarian Temptations in Free Societies
“The ideological man is thus both absolutely suspicious and absolutely enthusiastic. There seems to be no idea under the sun that he would not put into question and make an object of derision, skepticism, or contempt, no idea that he would not reduce to an offshoot of hidden instincts, mundane interests, biological drives, and psychological complexes. Hence he is likely to despise reason as an autonomous faculty, to downgrade lofty ideals, and to debunk the past, seeing everywhere the same ideological mystification. But at the same time, he lives in a constant state of mobilization for a better world. His mouth is full of noble slogans about brotherhood, freedom, and justice, and with every word he makes it clear that he knows which side is right and that he is ready to sacrifice his entire existence for the sake of its victory. The peculiar combination of both attitudes--merciless distrust and unwavering affirmation--gives him an incomparable sense of moral self-confidence and intellectual self-righteousness.” PoliticsDemocracyActivismIdeologyCommunism Book:The Demon in Democracy: Totalitarian Temptations in Free Societies Source: The Demon in Democracy: Totalitarian Temptations in Free Societies