Exclusively by “Borysfen Intel”
Volodymyr Shevchenko
Andrii Savarets
New Polarization
Russia’s aggression dealt a blow to the global security system — one of the pillars on which rested the old world order, created by the coalition of winners in World War II.
The whole world is in motion — frozen conflicts are thawing, and “cold” and “hot” wars are flaring up across the planet.
The international relations and created 80 years ago institutions representing them no longer correspond to the spirit of the time and must sink into oblivion.
Popular theories claiming to describe the world processes have also collapsed: Marxism, systemic liberalism, theories of the “golden billion”, “world conspiracy of elites”, etc.
At all levels, corporate identity comes to the fore, based on societies’ sense of their internal unity and, at the same time, spiritual and cultural difference from other societies.
The world is entering a period of a New Cold War and a new polarization.
In the previous Cold War, the line of confrontation divided the world of socialism and that of capitalism. The division was based on the confrontation between the ideologies of totalitarianism and democracy.
Now a deeper structure is emerging.
In the New World Cold War, the dividing line is not created by class, political, racial, ethnogenetic or economic approaches. But by Ethics — the attitude to Life and Death, and their sense.
Today’s World Faces Critical Challenges That Need to Be Responded to Adequately
It is becoming more and more obvious that the left-liberal concept currently dominant in the West is not capable of giving such an answer, although it claims to be universal.
It was a powerful force in the 1960s–1990s. And even became a factor in victory in the Cold War. However, it has now become inadequate under the new circumstance.
In the 21st century, a society professing a radical left-liberal ideology is not capable of waging war, either cold or hot, but is an ideal victim for the aggressor.
About a year ago, the authors pointed out that the cluster of despotic-terrorist states is constantly expanding, formalizing and acting as a single structure, the conceptual center of which will be Russia.
Then this thesis was voiced at many international platforms. In particular, at the seminar by the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies: “A BRINK Quartet (Belarus, Russia, Iran, and North Korea), a grouping spatially distributed, yet strategically connected… with Russia its cornerstone and center of gravity”.
Jens Stoltenberg, then NATO Secretary General, also said that the conclusion of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between the Russian Federation and the DPRK demonstrates the growing coherence between authoritarian states, and emphasized the importance of democracies presenting a united front.
It is the “Axis of Evil” that was the first to offer the world a new agenda — aggressive necrophilic totalitarianism with an emphasis on xenophobia and social archaism with a complete disregard for international law.
And this agenda resonates not only among the world’s outcasts and scumbags, but even among citizens of highly developed and completely democratic states. In the context of growing migration and social problems in Western countries, this agenda turned out to be attractive for certain social strata.
The reason is clear — it is clearly formulated and gives, although cannibalistic and totalitarian, but at least some answer to the challenges that resulted from the implementation of the left-liberal concept. At the very least, it is a sort of alternative. And the only one that is offered.
But if the ideology of the “Axis of Evil” is the path to the complete destruction of civilization, while the left-liberal agenda cannot withstand the challenges of our time, then a logical question arises: what model of building society on a local and global scale can effectively resist evil?
The West has a chance to win the civilizational confrontation with the constantly expanding and integrating “Axis of Evil” in the only case — if it carries out a conscious, thoughtful and balanced “right turn” — the transition to a modern right-wing ideology.
And here the collective West faces two serious problems.
Problem 1.
Mimicry of the ideology of the “Russian world” (an example for right-wing extremists around the world) under the civilized right-wing project, and their claim to a monopoly in this area.
The entire powerful apparatus of Russian propaganda is aimed at persuading the maximum number of citizens of the planet that it is Russia that is the leader of the “right turn”, and the necrophilic totalitarianism of the “Axis of Evil” is a movement towards civilized right-wing political values (the revival and defense of national traditions and interests, criticism of numerous drawbacks of capitalism and excesses of liberal democracy).
This deliberately imposed illusion can and should be dispelled. Because Putin’s ideology (the basis for the unity of the “Axis of Evil” regimes) is not a right-wing ideology, but its simulacrum — a misanthropic futuroarchaic.
Life presents an endless number of examples of this every day.
One example of the manifestation of its true essence: many right-wingers around the world expected that in Tucker Carlson’s announced interview with Putin, the latter would appear as a deep personality who dared to challenge the American deep state, the “world government”, ultra-globalists, left-liberal values (obsession with the rights of LGBTQI+, irresponsible immigration policies, etc.).
Instead, to the world was presented a crazy primitive barbarian obsessed with Ukraine, a reminiscence of Hitler, with a complete absence of the latter’s demonic charisma.
Problem 2.
Imposing the idea that support for Ukraine means support for the left-liberal direction of development of Western civilization.
This technique “he who is against radical liberalism, is against supporting Ukraine” has results.
While the West is committed to the left-liberal idea, its critics — right and left populists —are gaining weight.
The anti-liberal idea is gaining strength in Western countries. This is a natural reaction of Western society to attempts by part of it to continue on a path that will inevitably lead to the death of the entire Western civilization in its broad sense.
The parliamentary elections in Slovakia in 2023 were won by former Prime Minister Robert Fico and his left-wing national populist party SMER. In fact, the elections in Slovakia became a referendum on the position of the country’s population regarding Ukraine.
The New York Times pointed out: “…the success of parties who are opposed to helping Ukraine might aid Russia in creating fractures in Europe’s support for the country… A victory for a populist party like SMER could push Slovakia closer to the model of “illiberal democracy” championed by Mr. Orban in Hungary…”
As The Economist reports: “Across much of Europe, populist right-wing parties, once relegated to the fringe, are going from strength to strength… Even newish democracies that for decades lacked big nationalist parties — Portugal, Romania and Spain —now have them”.
Bloomberg, in the article “Populists Surge in Germany’s Regional Votes, Humbling Scholz” writes that “…Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition was punished in two regional elections in eastern Germany on Sunday, with populist parties on the extreme right and left taking more than 60 % of the vote in Thuringia and almost half in Saxony.
The Alternative for Germany is on course for a clear victory in Thuringia on 32.8 %, according to projections for public broadcaster ARD. It represents the first triumph for a far-right party in a German state ballot since World War II”.
But such trends are observed not only in Europe!
As The Washington Post puts it: “In recent years, Orban has emerged as a kind of lodestar for the right-wing movement in the United States. In power since 2010, his enduring success is seen by some Republicans as a template for how an emboldened nationalist project can win and keep winning…
To his American admirers, Orban’s avowedly illiberal politics and contempt for the Western establishment must be emulated”.
If the West does not respond in any way to society’s demand for a civilized “right turn”, then right-wing and left-wing extremists will come to power after the right-wing populists, and in an absolutely legal way, like Hitler did in 1933.
Constructive Western Right Against the “Axis of Evil”
A constructive right-wing ideology should be based on right-wing realism, and not on right-wing populism, let alone right-wing radicalism.
For example, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson rightly asks in his Daily Mail column: “To all his [Trump’s] Ukraine-sceptic supporters in the Republican Party, I say: how can you possibly make America great again if you allow a Russian tyrant to inflict a total humiliation on the West?”
The leader of the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) of the Netherlands, Geert Wilders, said that his party supports Ukraine and is ready to discuss any type of assistance. He also called Russia’s war against Ukraine “illegal and barbaric”.
The right in Europe, and subsequently in the United States, will be able to take power into their own hands in elections only if:
- firstly, they disavow Putin as a false prophet of the “right turn” and his bloody money, and take a pro-Ukrainian position;
- secondly, they build their ideology and election campaign on the basis of right-wing realism, not legal populism.
There are already examples (besides the Netherlands):
- Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni has said that the international community must join forces to protect Ukraine. And Ukraine can continue to count on Italy as long as it takes.
- The National Rally Party is still in the search stage, but there are already some changes. Marine Le Pen, who is already predicted to win the 2027 presidential election, has declared her support for Ukraine, although she promises to cancel permission to use French weapons on Russian territory.
Why is the example of the Netherlands, France and Italy important? Because it is in these countries that these political forces position themselves as right-wing parties, and they are forced to be filled with realism when they get into practical politics.
It is necessary to highlight Argentina separately. Argentina’s President Javier Miley has declared unlimited support for Ukraine and also developed a plan that would allow the transfer of five combat aircrafts to Ukraine. Argentina’s government has requested to join NATO as a “global partner”.
Convergence of Methods and Divergence of Final Development Goals
To adequately counter the cannibalistic agenda of Russia and the “Axis of Evil”, a constructive Western right-wing ideology must have some similarities with its opponents (convergence of methods with divergence of goals).
Namely:
- take into consideration national (that is, group) interests as a priority;
- be based on natural normality and traditional values of society without the dominance of archaics;
- clearly distinguish between the aggressor and the victim of aggression, and not to put them on the same so-called “panhuman” level;
- be tough.
The only way to preserve individual human freedom, the freedom of the people and simply the physical survival of humanity is the victory of the West in the Second Cold War through real preparation for the “hot” one.
This is the basic postulate of the “right turn” for Ukraine, Europe and the entire collective West.
The key mechanism of this victory is militarization of all spheres of public life.
Components of the Civilized “Right Turn”
Physical arms race (quantitative and qualitative)
Media reports show that the war in Ukraine has already contributed to a 9 % rise in global defense spending to a record $2.2 trillion. The world’s top 15 defense companies will double their orders to $52 billion by the end of 2026.
For example, this year Germany will spend almost €72 billion on defense — more than at any time in the history of the Bundeswehr. The Baltic States, preparing for Russia’s invasion, are building fortifications, about 1,000 bunkers included.
Every month more and more countries around the world are involved in a physical arms race.
The arms race is especially noticeable in the areas of high technology, including artificial intelligence.
Moral and psychological component
Formation of a negative emotional perception of a potential enemy. Militarization of mass consciousness and building up its “masculinity”.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former NATO Secretary General, wrote in an article for The Wall Street Journal entitled “The West Needs a War Footing”: “We need to embrace a new mind-set. We need politicians who dare to tell the truth — including that defense and military-equipment investments are an essential element in the defense of freedom and peace”.
In Finland, mass consciousness has sharply turned towards an extremely negative perception of Russia (more than 90 %).
Sweden, as Politico writes, is urgently transforming its Home Guard military reserve from a Dad’s Army into a fighting force that has become so attractive to young Swedes that it’s having to turn away applicants.
Economic component
There is an awareness of the need to preserve and strengthen the role of the state in the economy (which runs counter to the ultra-globalist liberal concept, which ultimately does not imply the presence of a state at all).
In the context of a fragmented world and growing tensions between economic macroclusters, the government will resort to increasing regulation to ensure the security of supply chains.
A compromise could be a balance between strict regulation of critical and sensitive industries and deregulation and encouragement of initiative at the grassroots economic level.
Internal political
The increasing role of the state in the management of society, digitalization, control over hostile manifestations of social activity, the fight against sabotage and espionage.
A civilized “right turn” presupposes the restoration of the principle of dominance of the majority over the minority — the basis of democracy in its classical Hellenistic understanding.
External Political
There will be a growing trend towards an increasingly tough foreign policy towards potential adversaries.
For example, a Swiss security expert working group is calling for a review of the neutrality that the country has maintained since 1515. Against the background of the growing threat from Russia, it is also proposed to strengthen ties with the EU and NATO, increase military spending and expand cooperation with the West.
Emmanuel Macron was one of the first European leaders to clearly grasp these trends. As The Washington Post writes: “France wants to be at the forefront of the conversation on European Union enlargement. It espouses strong support for Ukrainian membership in NATO. And it says it will stand with Ukraine “until victory”.
The leadership of France begins to clearly manifest itself against the background of an undecided Germany and the indecisiveness of its leader.
“Macron has already become the leader of the EU, which he has long dreamed of being. The French leader used to communicate with Putin and rely on Scholz, but now prefers to be more independent, influencing events in Europe”, writes Bloomberg.
Further comprehensive support for Ukraine by Western countries is important, because the free world must show that humanistic values are unshakable and human rights are inviolable, and there will definitely be a retribution for an aggressive war; and autocracy, and even more so totalitarianism, is a dead-end branch of the development of human civilization.
Social
George Friedman in the book “American Empire” wrote very vaguely: “New forms usually arise as a result of war, when society is destroyed and a new order is created… I suspect that the new social order will include the traditions of the recent past”.
The “right turn” involves a return at all levels (including family) to the model of “natural normality” based on common sense, as well as at the level of micro-collectives and gender relations.
Migration
A meaningful, responsible and decisive immigration policy. The desire to preserve the traditional ethno-confessional balance.
Conclusions
The conditional West has a chance to win the confrontation with the rapidly forming “Axis of Evil” if it can “distinguish the smell of sulfur” well.
The “right turn” in the ideology and politics of the West is not a rejection of democracy and humanism of Western civilization. It is the only effective mechanism for preserving these fundamental values in the face of a critical threat.
If the West does not abandon life on the “planet of pink ponies” — that is, within the framework of radical left-liberal ideology, and does not carry out a conscious, thoughtful and balanced “right turn”, the new “Axis of Evil” will crush it in the very near future, including, through penetrating under a “false flag” its political system.
Modern right-wing ideology is a shield against the necrophilic totalitarianism of the “Axis of Evil”. This is the only way to save the values of the West from their destruction, and human civilization as a whole from imminent destruction.
| About the Authors: | |
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Volodymyr Shevchenko, the former aide to the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Doctor of Philosophy |
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Andrii Savarets, Chairman of the Center for Digital Economy Development |
