The 20th Century was filled with grand ideas, with two of the biggest being fascism and communism. (Communism was invented back in the 19th, of course, but it wasn’t really tried at scale until the 20th.) Both are forms of collectivism, another -ism; both sought to define not only a unique way of viewing the world, but also to prescribe how the individual, society, and humanity should interact. Both sought to transform fundamentally the nature and structure of society. Both are largely (and thankfully) gone.
Although neither one is completely extinguished—and probably never will be—they are no longer the guiding philosophies of major nation-states. “Fascist” is a pejorative; communism is still accepted in polite society, but it is no longer seriously practiced by any real player on the world stage.
It should be noted that although China officially identifies as “communist”, no honest political theorist would describe it as such. It has thriving middle and upper classes, private property, and even private enterprise. Its economic system is more appropriately called “state-authoritarian capitalist”.
Both philosophies look good on paper, to some extent; as the military would say, “it briefs well”.
Fascism promotes strength, leadership, decisiveness, self-interest, cultural traditions, and continuous improvement through shedding weak or flawed elements. What could possibly go wrong?
Communism has spawned an entire academic field that shows, scientifically and incontrovertibly, that its principles are sound and its conclusions are all but obvious. It doesn’t just work—it’s inevitable. In theory.
The thing is, empirical evidence does not bear out the theory. Put another way: we’ve tried both systems. Several times. They led to bad things happening. We’re not going to do that anymore.
This post isn’t about fascism or communism, although I do have a few things to say about communism—I spent all of May 2024 writing about it1. Rather, I am using these as example systems of thought that… let’s say, failed to catch on. They burst onto the scene, they were vigorously (often violently) promoted, and somehow they’re not around anymore. They are a foil to the protagonist; an amuse-bouche to the entree.
Almost exactly two thousand years ago, a Jewish man claimed to be the anointed of God, the savior of his people from Roman suzerainty—one of many who so claimed. He was executed in the most humiliating, degrading, tortuous way available at the time. Before he died, he said and did things that his followers remembered and wrote down. These teachings, and subsequent commentaries on these teachings, have given rise to the religion of Christianity.
Some have used fascism or communism to amass power and wealth; to stoke hatred and to provoke wars. Their respective -isms did not long survive those efforts. Even when the -ism won the war, it still collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions and fallacies.
Some have used Christianity to amass power and wealth (looking at you, Rome). Some have used it to stoke hatred and to provoke wars. Sometimes, Christians were on the losing side of the war (looking at you, Second Crusade). Christianity has survived and outlived all of the abuses heaped upon it by the flawed humans who claim its name.
Over its two millennia, Christianity has evolved considerably. It has learned from every mistake and misinterpretation, whether innocent or nefarious. It has amassed wisdom.
The people who espoused the idea have added their own spin—as is to be expected. They came and they went. But the idea itself has survived and thrived. In its various incarnations, it is the most widespread religion in the world.
Maybe there’s something to it that’s worth noting.
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2024.05.26 https://alcampbell.substack.com/p/a-prescription-for-communism-pt-2
2024.05.19 https://alcampbell.substack.com/p/united-soviet-socialist-states-of
2024.05.12 https://alcampbell.substack.com/p/united-soviet-socialist-nations
2024.05.05 https://alcampbell.substack.com/p/the-communist-manifesto-revisited