The selective weaponization of "authoritarian" labels by Western powers exposes how such rhetoric creates a false equivalence between fascism and anti-imperialist resistance to legitimize empire.
In 2009 the European Parliament instituted an annual commemoration on August 23rd, to “mark the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of All Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes”.
This is just one of several modern-day initiatives to perversely conflate Communism and Nazism, while transforming Wehrmacht and SS collaborators, Holocaust perpetrators, and fascists in countries liberated by the Red Army into victims, and laying blame for World War II at Soviets' feet.
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The CIA actively promoted the conflation of Communism and Nazism as a Cold War propaganda tool.
A key example is the agency's financial and promotional support for Hannah Arendt's 1951 work, "The Origins of Totalitarianism".
Arendt’s book argued that Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were structurally identical "totalitarian" regimes, basically whitewashing Fascism. The CIA, through front organizations like the "Congress for Cultural Freedom", covertly funded the book's translation, distribution, and widespread academic discussion. This campaign helped legitimize the idea that Soviet Communism was morally equivalent to Nazism, thereby undermining leftist sympathy in the West and framing the Cold War as a struggle between democracy and a uniquely evil system.
Like the Communist Party of Germany, the leader of which, Ernst Thälmann, was tortured and executed by Nazi regime. Or Georg Schumann, German politician, resistance fighter against the Nazi regime, tortured and killed by Gestapo on January 11, 1945
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"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. "
-Martin Niemöller, German theologian and pastor, arrested by Gestapo and imprisoned in concentration camp as a political prisoner
I see the both sides tactic used in mainstream media all the time. They simplify complex topics, and try to equate clearly one sided topics in a way that gives credit to both sides. I see it a lot on CNN. On another topic the No Kings and other harmless protests have done very little to change the trajectory of the US. I remember participating in them, and seeing no improvement. Most of the mainstream media companies didn't even cover them. We need something much "stronger" to correct the trajectory we are going down now.
The term authoritarianism will always be debated, given that it will never have the same definition everywhere. Your observation is real, except that it is made from an anti-capitalist perspective.
Allow me to ask you this question: despite the self-interested labeling of China as an authoritarian state by the West, does it not still remain authoritarian?
Authority in anyone’s hands is never a good thing. It just leads to massive amounts of suffering in the name of some vague concept someone has become convinced is worth pursuing and are thus fanatical about.
http://Ccrjustice.org Stephen Rohde Bruce Fine Dean Baker Robert Reich Thom hartmann Ralph Nader Katie halper Dr Warwick Powell 🤔 Inside China/Business
In 2009 the European Parliament instituted an annual commemoration on August 23rd, to “mark the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of All Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes”.
This is just one of several modern-day initiatives to perversely conflate Communism and Nazism, while transforming Wehrmacht and SS collaborators, Holocaust perpetrators, and fascists in countries liberated by the Red Army into victims, and laying blame for World War II at Soviets' feet.
***
The CIA actively promoted the conflation of Communism and Nazism as a Cold War propaganda tool.
A key example is the agency's financial and promotional support for Hannah Arendt's 1951 work, "The Origins of Totalitarianism".
Arendt’s book argued that Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia were structurally identical "totalitarian" regimes, basically whitewashing Fascism. The CIA, through front organizations like the "Congress for Cultural Freedom", covertly funded the book's translation, distribution, and widespread academic discussion. This campaign helped legitimize the idea that Soviet Communism was morally equivalent to Nazism, thereby undermining leftist sympathy in the West and framing the Cold War as a struggle between democracy and a uniquely evil system.
http://youtu.be/YQCeMM9fOK8?t=1373
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And No one ever mentions that the Socialists and Communists were the first prisoners in Nazi concentration camps...
http://youtu.be/iI3ucytnbXo?t=1041
Like the Communist Party of Germany, the leader of which, Ernst Thälmann, was tortured and executed by Nazi regime. Or Georg Schumann, German politician, resistance fighter against the Nazi regime, tortured and killed by Gestapo on January 11, 1945
***
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. "
-Martin Niemöller, German theologian and pastor, arrested by Gestapo and imprisoned in concentration camp as a political prisoner
Dictatorship of the proletariat vs dictatorship of the bourgeoisie is the key concept here
I see the both sides tactic used in mainstream media all the time. They simplify complex topics, and try to equate clearly one sided topics in a way that gives credit to both sides. I see it a lot on CNN. On another topic the No Kings and other harmless protests have done very little to change the trajectory of the US. I remember participating in them, and seeing no improvement. Most of the mainstream media companies didn't even cover them. We need something much "stronger" to correct the trajectory we are going down now.
How the CIA Created the Modern "compatible" Left:
http://substack.com/home/post/p-182241105
http://youtube.com/shorts/k1HetD-XTMY
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How the CIA supports the "Compatible Left":
http://youtube.com/watch?v=O1sJ2uZ4aaQ
The term authoritarianism will always be debated, given that it will never have the same definition everywhere. Your observation is real, except that it is made from an anti-capitalist perspective.
Allow me to ask you this question: despite the self-interested labeling of China as an authoritarian state by the West, does it not still remain authoritarian?
All States are by nature authoritarian. Anarchists have been telling you guys this forever.
authority in the hands of the proletariat is a good thing
Authority in anyone’s hands is never a good thing. It just leads to massive amounts of suffering in the name of some vague concept someone has become convinced is worth pursuing and are thus fanatical about.
Yes they are also by definition they all are that’s why it isn’t a useful metric of validity
So what is a useful metric of validity then?
http://Ccrjustice.org Stephen Rohde Bruce Fine Dean Baker Robert Reich Thom hartmann Ralph Nader Katie halper Dr Warwick Powell 🤔 Inside China/Business