Aldarion
Neoreactionary Monarchist
Antifascism is the idea of opposing fascism so that its evils would not repeat. It is nice, optimistic and logical.
It is also incredibly stupid.
Main problem with authoritharian, genocidal regimes is never the ideology itself. Genocide can be done by intent, or it can happen by accident. It can be a product of hate, or done in order to reach an utopian paradise. But one common theme is the excess of central control. It is not ideology that is lethal, but rather the very fact of an overpowerful state.
But antifascism, by shifting the focus on the ideology, actually promotes the idea of a powerful state that can hold the ideology in check. In that way, it supports the evil which it professes to oppose. Thus it should come to no surprise that self-proclaimed antifascists act exactly like fascists they claim to oppose. Instead of looking at what made fascism evil and murderous, idea itself is presented as inherently evil and murderous - with implicit statement that even almost-exactly-the-same ideas cannot be (as) evil, because they are "not fascism"; as if it is the very word "fascism" which made the ideology genocidal. As a result, Communism and communist mass murderers are often given a free pass - such as Josip Broz Tito, who is often seen as a good person opposed to fascist Ante Pavelić, despite the fact that he killed possibly even more people than Pavelić did. But Pavelić = fascist = evil, Tito = antifascist = anti-evil = good. Or at least that is the logic which Croatian Communists such as Ivo Goldstein and Tvrtko Jakovina.
The conflict between Nazism and Fascism on one side and Communism on the other side is treated similarly. Nazism and Fascism oppose modern-day ideals, and are thus evil, whereas Communism claims it will create a paradise, and is therefore a "good idea". But few people ask what is the cost of a paradise, and how far will the justification of paradise on earth take us. Modern Left sneers at Crusaders for waging a war for the idea of heavenly salvation, while at the same time doing the exact same thing - but far more stupid, because paradise on Earth has been proven to be unachievable, through governmental intervention at least.
But the very idea of utopia, of "just" society, being possible, is dangerous. It can be, and is, used as a justification for incredibly destructive and psychotic behaviour - because society resulting from it will be "better". Flood of blood can be justified by the brighter future, nevermind that said brighter future is unachievable garbage most of the time - or even in and by itself, evil. To achieve anything good, it is necessary to be able to think critically. And antifascism attacks the very idea of critical thought, because it simplifies philosophy and ideology into simple good-bad pattern, where certain ideologies are bad and anything that opposes them is good - regardless of its characteristics.
It is also incredibly stupid.
Main problem with authoritharian, genocidal regimes is never the ideology itself. Genocide can be done by intent, or it can happen by accident. It can be a product of hate, or done in order to reach an utopian paradise. But one common theme is the excess of central control. It is not ideology that is lethal, but rather the very fact of an overpowerful state.
But antifascism, by shifting the focus on the ideology, actually promotes the idea of a powerful state that can hold the ideology in check. In that way, it supports the evil which it professes to oppose. Thus it should come to no surprise that self-proclaimed antifascists act exactly like fascists they claim to oppose. Instead of looking at what made fascism evil and murderous, idea itself is presented as inherently evil and murderous - with implicit statement that even almost-exactly-the-same ideas cannot be (as) evil, because they are "not fascism"; as if it is the very word "fascism" which made the ideology genocidal. As a result, Communism and communist mass murderers are often given a free pass - such as Josip Broz Tito, who is often seen as a good person opposed to fascist Ante Pavelić, despite the fact that he killed possibly even more people than Pavelić did. But Pavelić = fascist = evil, Tito = antifascist = anti-evil = good. Or at least that is the logic which Croatian Communists such as Ivo Goldstein and Tvrtko Jakovina.
The conflict between Nazism and Fascism on one side and Communism on the other side is treated similarly. Nazism and Fascism oppose modern-day ideals, and are thus evil, whereas Communism claims it will create a paradise, and is therefore a "good idea". But few people ask what is the cost of a paradise, and how far will the justification of paradise on earth take us. Modern Left sneers at Crusaders for waging a war for the idea of heavenly salvation, while at the same time doing the exact same thing - but far more stupid, because paradise on Earth has been proven to be unachievable, through governmental intervention at least.
But the very idea of utopia, of "just" society, being possible, is dangerous. It can be, and is, used as a justification for incredibly destructive and psychotic behaviour - because society resulting from it will be "better". Flood of blood can be justified by the brighter future, nevermind that said brighter future is unachievable garbage most of the time - or even in and by itself, evil. To achieve anything good, it is necessary to be able to think critically. And antifascism attacks the very idea of critical thought, because it simplifies philosophy and ideology into simple good-bad pattern, where certain ideologies are bad and anything that opposes them is good - regardless of its characteristics.
