The Blogs: Stalin and the Socialism of Fools

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Perforce, at this late stage of my life, I am compelled to consider antisemitism, because it is ubiquitous, even in places I would have considered immune.

September 5: the NY Post reported that the Democratic Socialists of America, the party of Zohran Mamdani and AOC, adopted resolutions endorsing armed struggle against Israel and threatening to expel members who deviate from its hard-line anti-Israel policies. Titled “For a Fighting Anti-Zionist DSA,” they unequivocally affirm principles adopted by the 1977 Palestinian National Council, emphasizing armed struggle and resistance by any means necessary.

One should hardly be surprised when stupid people do stupid things, but it reminded me of a phrase that had been long dormant in my memory, a phrase that had been popular among classical socialists–the thinking kind:

“Antisemitism is the socialism of fools.”

Attributed to Ferdinand Kronawetter, an Austrian politician who coined it in 1889, the phrase scoffed at an idea that had gained currency in populist, pseudo-socialist circles to the effect that the root cause of social injustice was Jewish wealth and power.

This notion was anathema to the purist proponents of the Marxian theory that the underlying cause was the struggle between bourgeoisie and proletariat. Kronawetter and his comrades thought that stupid people, unable to get their simple minds around the concepts of capital, modes of production, and class conflict, took an undemanding, disreputable shortcut and . . . blamed the Jews. So antisemitism became “the socialism of fools.” Scapegoating the Jews vitiated the need to deconstruct the system, thus distorting socialist ideals. If you are a fool, went the reasoning, you adopt antisemitism as a substitute for a reasoned worldview.

As, theoretically, antisemitism is antithetical to classical socialism, the phrase ridiculing antisemitism became popular among German Social Democrats opposing it in workers’ movements.

But later, claimed the brilliant political philosopher, Leo Strauss, Stalin realized that antisemitism could be wedded to socialism as a useful tool and political asset, harnessing the stupidity of tens of millions of fools whose animosity toward Jews could be politically advantageous, providing mass support without rigid adherence to socialist principles. Originally a denunciation of bigotry, the phrase thus became a formula for weaponizing mass antipathy toward Jews. Strauss explained that totalitarian regimes frequently manipulate prejudice to maintain control, even when that prejudice is inconsistent with a regime’s ideology.

After World War II, in his attempt to win support and promote Russian nationalism, Stalin attacked “rootless cosmopolitans,” which, in Russian, is spelled Zhid. He dismantled the Jewish AntiFascist Committee, which had been his ally against Hitler, and murdered its leader, Solomon Mikhoels. Purges of Jewish scientists and intellectuals, who were accused of Zionism and dual loyalty, followed. And then came the infamous Doctors’ Plot, its purported proponents accused of western espionage, support of international Jewry, and conspiracy to assassinate Stalin and other leaders. Confessions followed torture and, but for Stalin’s death, it is quite likely that Russian Jews would have been rounded up and deported to Siberia.

Then Stalin died and Russia’s new leadership declared the whole thing fabricated.

The progressive intersectional movement, including the DSA, has adopted Stalin’s methodology, manipulating the prejudice of a wide range of antisemitic fools to rally support for causes that would not normally be compatible with their ideologies. But for antisemitism, it is unlikely that LGBTQ groups would support homophobic Hamas, or Pussy Power be in the corner of the most misogynistic adherents of a repressive religion.

The modern anti-Zionist, antisemitic coalition is thus carrying on Stalin’s cynical exploitation of the socialism of fools. Antisemitism, in and of itself, is both inimical to socialism–a political movement without religion–and repulsive to liberal thought and modern sensibilities. Socialism is a failed ideology; many other causes supported by the hordes of campus radicals are equally unappealing to all but a sliver of the population, many of them counter-intuitive and offensive. Therefore, if the “fools” are to be harnessed in the service of actions they would normally perceive as hateful–terrorism, rape, brutality, kidnapping–then the antisemitism that appeals so strongly to them must be wedded to the ideologies and “isms” of the moment: Islamism, socialism, anti-colonialism, anti-racism, feminism, gender fluidity. What alone unites the masses behind this inchoate agglomeration, this internally inconsistent clump of movements? The socialism of fools, antisemitism.

In a rational world, a progressive mind would oppose antisemitism, not weaponize a variant of it to rally support. Educated people would immediately discern the inconsistencies in hating Jews for both their capitalism and communism, their statelessness and state, their religion and atheism, their promiscuity and sexual intolerance, their prurience and piety. The Jew is hated for being a Jew. Period. No further discussion necessary. The masses chanting the slogans, carrying the banners, and spraying the paint are fools, being played for fools by truly evil ideologues, the spiritual heirs of Stalin.

Identifying a problem does not address it. The enemy is extraordinarily well-financed and media-savvy, organized and orchestrated by a highly sophisticated network of governments and organizations, and supported by the media, academics, and NGOs. There is no single Stalin to die and end the momentum of the movement. On the contrary, the movement metastasizes in every direction, at the UN, at sovereign wealth funds, in the tech world and the economic marketplace through BDS. These fools are here to stay, and they are not susceptible to contrary persuasion. Confirmation bias compels the fool to interpret everything as evidence of his existing beliefs. The horrors of October 7? The natural response of an oppressed people. Israel’s existential war of self-defense? Genocidal racism. Theft by Hamas of Gaza’s food? Israeli war crimes.

That is why the true defense of Jews and their indigenous homeland must be aimed in a different direction. The fools will remain fools; our audience must be the non-fools. We will not convince the DSA, or the BBC, or NPR, or The New York Times or the brainwashed students at elite universities. Of course we should continue to object when they offend, but we should not expect to prevail. The fix is in.

There are, however, plenty of arenas in which common sense may still prevail. Facts are powerful. More frequently than not, there is a silent, or not so silent, majority that sees through the nonsense. That is the truth that Trump, despite his massive deficiencies, tapped.

It is no longer quite as risky to argue in some quarters or campuses against open borders, ritzy hotel accommodations for illegal aliens, defunding police, eliminating cash bail, raising barriers to felony convictions, biological men in girls’ sports and women’s rest rooms, exclusion of parents from participation in their children’s education. In many jurisdictions, the tide has turned against DEI, ecological suicide, and mindless school curricula. Intelligent, well-presented arguments turned the tide, not just by opposing the crazies or attempting to persuade them, but by aiming arguments at people who were predisposed to common sense. The fools are lost forever, but they are not the majority.

American Eagle stock is up 25% since the Sydney Sweeney jeans/genes ad campaign. No one seriously argues any longer that it is fair for biological men to compete against women. Europe–even Germany!— understands that abandoning fossil fuels precipitously will lead to disaster. The University of Austin attracts the best students by committing to the “inequality” of meritocracy, as opposed to the equality without excellence that has reigned in elite institutions. CBS thinks The Free Press may be worth over $100,000,000.

Similarly, any rational analysis of the provision of food by Israel to Gaza, or its theft by Hamas, will result in a more balanced evaluation of responsibility for food shortages. A strong case may be made that Hamas is actively promoting the death of civilians, both by its criminal conduct of the war and its denial of egress. Only one side in this war is genocidal. Israel has a right to exist and a duty to survive. Hamas is ultimately responsible for the fate of the hostages.

Reason can overcome and triumph. Facts are powerful. George Washington said, “Truth will ultimately prevail when pains are taken to bring it to light.”

We must take pains to recruit the right audience eager to oppose the fraudulent narrative of our antisemitic opponents, address them effectively, and persuade them. We need friends in this struggle against fools. Forget for the moment the infuriating blathering and mendacity of our enemies. Focus on dissemination of a clear message and strategy for developing and maintaining allies to join us against the fools.