Reactionary Socialism
Reactionary Socialism is a leftist,
reactionary ideology that resides in the upper left half of the political compass. It is very close to
Agrarian Socialism,
Guild Socialism, and
Distributism in policy, but is radically more traditionalist. Generally very decentralist.
History
In the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, Reactionary Socialism was referred to as basically a form of socialism that sought to revert to feudalism, or a Clerical version of socialism. It generally sought to de-proletarianize the working class, redistribute land to the peasants, and generally return to a Medieval type economy instead of seeking total collectivism. Since then, it has been used pejoratively towards "bourgeoie" socialist systems, such as Social Democracy. Additionally, many monarchists who were opposed to capitalism called themselves socialist, even though they were feudalists. Previous spokespersons include some members of the sao paulo forum and latin american nationalists for example Albizu campos saw american imperialism as being tied to protestantism and the "yankee" mentality he advocated for socialism and a return to a conservative agrarian way of life. The modern spokespersons for it are Alexander Dugin, who sees socialism as the best way to enforce a traditional society, and Arthur Penty, who glorified the guild economy. Some have even referred to Strasserism as reactionary socialism, since Strasser wanted federalization, a guild economy, and agrarianism.
Personality
Reactionary Socialism is very religious (generally Catholic, can be Orthodox) and traditional, like his father. However, he gets an explosive temper from his mother, and can usually be seen telling the proletariat to revolt against the unnatural plight of capitalism. Can be depicted speaking in Middle English, holding a sword and sickle or a musket, or holding some sweet Victorian-era flags.
Beliefs
The beliefs of reactionary socialists can vary greatly. Generally, they want small-scale worker democracy (like distributism), an artisan economy, a return to ruralism and the agrarian lifestyle, a planned economy, a return to some traditional religion, and a Monarchist or autocratic government system. However, they generally hate centralism, instead preferring federalism and localism. Some see socialism as an end to itself (once it gets rid of materialism and egalitarianism), while some see it as a step towards reinstating feudalism. Can be very hostile toward technology.
Variants
Conservative Revolution
Conservative Revolution is a movement in Germany and Austria between World War I and the rise of the Nazis. Its members wanted to change society, but they disagreed on how. They rejected egalitarianism, Liberal democracy, and modern culture, with some rejecting Christianity. Instead, they admired ideas from the past, like Friedrich Nietzsche's views, German Romanticism, and Prussian nationalism. They also drew from their experiences in World War I.
Their connection to Nazism was complex. Some saw them as a step towards fascism, but they were not the same. They didn't all believe in Nazi ideas about race. While they helped pave the way for the Nazis, they didn't have much influence on them. When the Nazis took over, most Conservative Revolutionaries were either killed or rejected the Nazi regime.
Later, their ideas influenced movements like the European New Right, which includes groups like the French Nouvelle Droite and German Neue Rechte. These ideas are still influential today, shaping movements like the European Identitarian movement.
New Nationalism and Morality
Conservative Revolutionaries believed their nationalism differed significantly from previous forms of German nationalism and conservatism. They criticized traditional Wilhelmine conservatives for being reactionary and failing to grasp modern concepts like technology, urbanization, and the working class.
Moeller van den Bruck described Conservative Revolution as preserving values inseparable from the Volk (ethnic group), which endure through time due to adaptations in their institutional and ideal forms. Unlike pure reactionaries or revolutionaries, Conservative Revolutionaries aimed to shape eternal values to ensure their survival amid historical changes. Edgar Jung rejected the notion that true conservatives aimed to halt progress. They sought a chivalric way of life guided by innate morality rather than a conscious moral code. Conservative revolutionaries aimed to restore natural laws and values within the modern world.
Influenced by Nietzsche, many rejected Christian ethics of solidarity and equality, viewing them as oppressive to the strong. They advocated for nations to prioritize self-interest over moral standards in geopolitics. Völkischen, influenced by racialist and occultist beliefs, opposed Christianity and sought a return to Germanic pagan faith or the adaptation of Christianity to remove foreign influences.
Volksgemeinschaft and Dictatorship
Thomas Mann believed that German resistance during World War I was stronger militarily than spiritually because the German essence couldn't easily express itself verbally, making it difficult to counter Western rhetoric effectively. He argued that German culture was deeply rooted in the soul and thus authoritarian rule was natural for Germans, as politics and democracy were seen as foreign to their spirit. Mann's ideas influenced Conservative Revolutionaries, although he later defended the Weimar Republic and criticized figures associated with the movement.
Carl Schmitt, in his essay "The Dictatorship," praised the power given to the president in the Weimar Republic to declare a state of emergency, which he saw as essential for effective governance. He argued that in a democratic state, any deviation from democratic principles could be considered dictatorship. Schmitt further proposed that sovereignty necessitated the ability to declare a state of emergency, allowing for swift decisions outside of parliamentary procedures. He later used this argument to justify Hitler's actions during the Night of the Long Knives, stating, "The leader defends the law."
Front-Line Socialism
Conservative Revolutionaries rejected the idea of being driven by class struggle resentment and instead looked to the camaraderie of World War I for inspiration, envisioning a national community beyond traditional political divides. They aimed to redefine revolution, associating it with the unity of the war's beginning rather than the turmoil of November 1918.
They agreed with socialists on curtailing capitalism's excesses, advocating for corporatism and closer collaboration between workers and employers. Their critique of capitalism stemmed from its wartime profits, inflation, and their own middle-class background, feeling squeezed between ruling capitalists and the masses.
While they dismissed communism as idealistic, they borrowed Marxist terminology, such as the inevitability of conservatism replacing liberalism, reflecting a historical materialist view. Influenced by vitalism and irrationalism, they believed in life's dominance over reason, contrasting with Marxist optimism. Some, like Ernst Niekisch, advocated National Bolshevism, blending ultra-nationalist socialism with anti-Western sentiments, even willing to align with German communists and the Soviet Union to combat the capitalist West.
Metternichism
A traditional conservative, Metternich was keen to maintain the balance of power, particularly by resisting Russian territorial ambitions in Central Europe and the Ottoman Empire. He disliked liberalism and strove to prevent the breakup of the Austrian Empire, for example, by crushing nationalist revolts in Austrian northern Italy. He pursued a similar policy at home, using censorship and a wide-ranging spy network to suppress unrest.
He saw nationalism as a threat to the cosmopolitan nature of the empire and a threat to its stability. This would lead him to suppress nationalist sentiments in the empire and other empires like the Ottoman Empire.
His socialism came from his wish to preserve the guild economy and his support for paternalism. He opposed Economic liberalism as well.
How To Draw
Reactionary Socialism's design is based on the combination of the Jerusalem cross (a symbol used for reactionaryism within Polcompball) on the red background (to symbolize socialism).
- Draw a ball.
- Color it in with red
- Draw a yellow/buff Jerusalem Cross (without the tiny crosses) inside a yellow/buff circle.
- Draw the eyes.
- (Optional) Draw a knight's helmet on top of the ball, similar to the one Feudalism wears.
- (Optional) Draw a sword and sickle as props, preferably in a similar position to
the hammer and sickle logo.
- You're done!
Color Name | HEX | RGB | |
---|---|---|---|
Red | #DA141E | 218, 20, 30 | |
Yellow | #FFE74C | 255, 231, 76 |
Relationships
Blessed and charitable
Monarcho-Socialism - The best system for ruling the realm.
Traditionalism - "Traditionalism is the most revolutionary ideal of our times", fully agree!
Fourth Theory - My modern counterpart. Down with liberalism!
Agrarian Socialism - Farmland distribution? Count me in!
Neoluddism - Hey, we both want to get rid of industry, we should get together more often.
Feudalism - We shall delegate the means of production for the sake of the peasant.
Imperialism - Unlike most other socialists, I see nothing wrong with you.
Populareism - An early version of me.
Crusadism - Deus vult!
Mladorossism - Tsarism and socialism? I love you.
Monarcho-Distributism - Like distributism, but better.
Gerontocracy - The wisdom of the elders shall be passed down from generation to generation.
Catholic Theocracy - It goes without saying, BLESSED!
Kritarchy - Any form of government from The Bible is BLESSED!
Burmese Socialism - The most blessed non-Christian ideology.
Strasserism - Socialist and traditionalist just like me. Wish you were more reactionary, though.
Caste System - Add a little socialism to improve the lives of the lower castes and it's blessed!
Ethnocacerism - Also a very blessed non-Christian socialist ideology. The Incan Empire was a great example of Bronze Age feudal socialism put into practice.
Manosphere - Sexual Marxism sounds interesting...
Christian Socialism - Religion and socialism? Blessed!
Lys Noir - You are me, if I was an anarchist.
Weary
Pol Potism - This man gets me. Well, sort of. We can never agree about monarchy or feudalism.
He's too insane even for meConservative Socialism - Blessed, but why don't you like feudalism?
Distributism - My more... moderate counterpart. Get more reactionary.
Guild Socialism - Thou hath started out blessed, why did thou hath to start liking democracy so much?
Fabian Socialism - Kinda blessed, but why get rid of the poor when they can be used to work to enrich the realm?
National Bolshevism - Thou hath some good ideas but thou want central control rather than feudal delegation.
Juche - Thou art pretty cool but why are thou so afraid to embrace thy monarchist nature?
Social Credit - Also hates
usurers and advocates for a more Christian society, but he does not go far enough in the redistribution of the means of production.
Paternalistic Conservatism - Just become a bit more radical, and join me!
Korwinism - Get rid of the cursed capitalism and thou shall be blessed!
Hydrarchy - Wanna go plunder the Spanish Armada?
What? They hired thou to attack us?Mercantilism - Conquering weaker nations and subjugating them is blessed, but monopoly corporations are not.
Protestant Theocracy - Thou split the church up and went against the Pope, but I forgive thou for that, because the Pope became a sellout who claimed you can "buy off" thy sins - and all must be equal under God. I'm still keeping my eye on thou, though.
Hoppeanism and
Anarcho-Capitalism - Blessed social views and Rothbard were one of biggest and most blessed enemies to usury and money worship. Capitalism and anarchism are cursed, though.
Counter-Enlightenment - Thy ideas are very good but please learn to embrace socialism.
Kraterocracy - Blessed but does not seem to understand the value of helping the poor. We can be stronger and subjugate others more efficiently if we're unified. "Rule of the strong" should be large-scale.
Odalism - Interesting guy, basically me if I were an anprim. Hath got a lot of good ideas but doesn't understand that the feudal age was our high point and the Age of Discovery proves that.
Wait, thou art a disgusting pagan?Reactionary Liberalism - Blessed but champions the very economic system responsible for bringing the things into the world that we oppose. Maybe he'll see that socialism and feudalism are the keys to what he wants.
Hindu Theocracy - The caste system rocked! It's a shame it eventually failed though.
Wish we could implement something like that in modern-day Europe.State Oriental Orthodoxy - Christian theocracy, but too capitalist. Maybe if we conquered thou, civilized thou, introduced socialism, and made thou part of the Realm... (oh wait,
socialism was introduced to thee, shame they were godless Marxists and not my variant)
Authoritarian Conservatism - We cooperate quite successfully in Russia. If only thou hath understood that one must embrace socialist economics to preserve tradition, thou would be perfect.
Neoreactionaryism - Some of you like Giovanni Dannato is blessed, but others... Must stay in hell or in void.
Hive-Mind Collectivism - We are people, not ants! But your existance proves, how we need to serve the God.
Decadent swine
Marxism–Leninism - Most of thy adherents are queerly progressives who think feudalism and monarchism are bad!
Maoism - Wait, there's more of them?
Dengism - WTF?! At least the other two are socialists.
But you at least think that Confucius' "Great Harmony Society" and Marxism are the same.Socialism - Thou promotes too much change all at once. I think it better if I stay in charge.
Sstay back you filthy peasants!Marxism - Leave it to a heathen to come up with a form of socialism that they pervert into something awful.
Italian Left Communism - Lazy fool thou art.
Anarchism - Thou make me want to blaspheme, thou absolute heathen scum!
Capitalism - Ew. Do I hath to say more?
Pinochetism - Thou art dropping the wrong people out of helicopters. And thou art a capitalist.
Alt-Right - Thou art like a neutered
Nazi, fearful and timid. Cowardly scoundrels, the lot of thou!
Alt-Lite - Thou art an even bigger coward than thy friend. Thou art fearful of thy own shadow.
Jacobinism - I absolutely abhor thee
(nice economics though)Progressivism - Progression is the absolute opposite of what socialism should bring about.
Revolutionary Progressivism - Thou shalt share the fate of the Jacobins if I hath anything to say about it!
Enlightenment Thought - Wretched Enlightenment, the brain of the bourgeoise.
Classical Liberalism - Literally
him in the sphere of economics. When shall thou die?!
Neoliberalism - Capitalists trying to push a failed ideology! Feudalism is human nature, thou fools!
Pink Capitalism - Progression? Capitalism? Absolutely REVOLTING!
State Liberalism - MY POLAR OPPOSITE! I WILL HAVE YOU HUNG, DRAWN AND QUARTERED!
Neo-Enlightenment - YOU ARE REINCARNATION OF THE DEVIL HIMSELF! YOUR SECOND ENLIGHTENMENT WILL ONLY BRING US MORE DOOM AND...
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Haha, funny light goes brrrrr... Accidentally burns Reactionary Socialism to ashes
Corporatocracy - Capitalist, degenerate, run by the godless, thy wicked ways make me want to blaspheme! Begone, a foul plague on western civilization!
Kleptocracy - Art thou not just
him again?
Fordism - The epitome of degeneracy and capitalism! Perish in Gehennah!
Satanic Theocracy - BURN THE WITCH AT THE STAKE!
Pagan Theocracy - BURN THE WITCH AT THE STAKE!
Pacifist Feminism - BURN THE WITCH AT THE STAKE!
Liberal Feminism - BURN THE WITCH AT THE STAKE!
Noticing a pattern here?State Atheism - No, I am not going to burn thee at the stake. I hath special plans for heretics like thou.
Esoteric Socialism - The Freemasons are a vile Satanic group, thou shall pay for defiling the good name of the honorable Knights Templar. A pox upon thou!
(Your economics are great, as is your style of rule. If thou hath used my example as a model, thou would be my best friend!)Islamic Theocracy - I'm sorry, but anyone who ever learned how to fix a bathroom from a Muslim should call himself a barbarian.
Jihadism - Art thou not just
that heathen again?
Islamic Democracy - Barbarians, democracy, thou art almost as bad as
that thing.
Islamic Anarchism - Anarchism? Barbarianism? Just pure wretched filth.
Neoconservatism - Cuckservatives who hate socialism and tradition. The war on terror had the chance to be blessed, but thou corrupted the West's best opportunity at a crusade in centuries.
Fully Automated Gay Space Communism - Satanic hedonistic robot sodomite. One of the worst ideologies imaginable. And we have
him to thank for it. The very existence of this is blasphemy against all that is good and Godly.
Esoteric Fascism - Heathen Paganism is disgusting.
Homoconservatism - Yes, thou crapitalist cuckservative sodomite, I am the regressive left that wants to hang thou.
Financialism - DOWN WITH USURY!
Further Information
Wikipedia
Articles
Literature
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Citations
Gallery
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Credit: u/Internetfunnyman1000, Source
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Credit:
Based And Jedpilled
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Credit: u/Borisyukishvili, Source
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Old Drawing for Reactionary Socialism