- 04 Apr 2010 21:45
#13362164
Possibly the most obvious visual theme to indicate that these "National Bolsheviks" are quite a diverging strand of a basically peculiar sort of Bolshevism (for the sake of accurate political reading, I'll use the term "Bolshevism" to describe their base ideology instead of outright Communism, which is a highly debatable point of doctrine for this group) is the glaring use of the Nazi flag as their party symbol. A Nazi flag... with a hammer and sickle in the white circle. I don't know whether they opted for this representation out of sympathy for the National Socialists, the fact they consider themselves ultra-nationalist socialists (which is a generally sound description for them), or their rumored affinity towards Strasserism, an ideology that comes much closer to the concept of working-class nationalism, and thus, organically suitable to consider a sister ideology to their own.
Some websites label the National Bolsheviks as a new addition to the neo-fascist tendency, and Aleksander Dugin, the leader of the National Bolshevik Party himself, once wrote an article praising left-wing Fascism for its durability throughout history and its strong connection to Stalinism. The fact remains that this group is outwardly very fascistic in choice of symbolism and propaganda material; you can determine that by simply skimming through the visuals section of their website. Coupled with what I've heard is an anti-Semitic component to their ideology, their so-called Bolshevism strays very far away from Leninist Bolshevism.
We could call this a different form of Bolshevism, or Socialism, altogether. One that is militantly working-class oriented with some concessions to small business, "petty bourgeoisie," in the spirit of Lenin's New Economic Policy, but comprising a more or less significant racialist-nationalist character as well. That latter component invalidates most of the non-racialist, non-nationalist doctrine pursued by orthodox Marxists and hardline socialists since their first public writings. My first impression is that they'd like to follow in the early path of the National Socialists, preserving a decidedly working-class, semi-racialist and ultra-nationalist program. Certainly, their appearance as well as their ideological goals stand up to that description. Yet, their past adherence to backwater left-wing groups, and their denouncement of Fascist affiliations, speaks against a holistic comparison to the Nazis.
My question is - since I'm very new to this forum and only beginning to comprehend the larger mechanisms of ideological and pragmatic components in party politics from extremely well-read people - what would you think of this party and ideology? Specifically, do you believe it should more appropriately be called far-right Fascist, proto-Fascist, or left-wing nationalist of the far-left?
Best regards.
Some websites label the National Bolsheviks as a new addition to the neo-fascist tendency, and Aleksander Dugin, the leader of the National Bolshevik Party himself, once wrote an article praising left-wing Fascism for its durability throughout history and its strong connection to Stalinism. The fact remains that this group is outwardly very fascistic in choice of symbolism and propaganda material; you can determine that by simply skimming through the visuals section of their website. Coupled with what I've heard is an anti-Semitic component to their ideology, their so-called Bolshevism strays very far away from Leninist Bolshevism.
We could call this a different form of Bolshevism, or Socialism, altogether. One that is militantly working-class oriented with some concessions to small business, "petty bourgeoisie," in the spirit of Lenin's New Economic Policy, but comprising a more or less significant racialist-nationalist character as well. That latter component invalidates most of the non-racialist, non-nationalist doctrine pursued by orthodox Marxists and hardline socialists since their first public writings. My first impression is that they'd like to follow in the early path of the National Socialists, preserving a decidedly working-class, semi-racialist and ultra-nationalist program. Certainly, their appearance as well as their ideological goals stand up to that description. Yet, their past adherence to backwater left-wing groups, and their denouncement of Fascist affiliations, speaks against a holistic comparison to the Nazis.
My question is - since I'm very new to this forum and only beginning to comprehend the larger mechanisms of ideological and pragmatic components in party politics from extremely well-read people - what would you think of this party and ideology? Specifically, do you believe it should more appropriately be called far-right Fascist, proto-Fascist, or left-wing nationalist of the far-left?
Best regards.