The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
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The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
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Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#2If you find this interesting, definitely read his book https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homage_to_Catalonia !
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#3[dead]
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#4For the sibling comment asking about Orwell's stance on Stalin:
> One could not have a better example of the moral and emotional shallowness of our time, than the fact that we are now all more or less pro Stalin. This disgusting murderer is temporarily on our side, and so the purges, etc., are suddenly forgotten.
-- George Orwell, in his war-time diary, 3 July 1941
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#5I'm not versed enough in political theory to know myself, but why have seemingly all communist movements and governments been so riddled with purges, paranoia, and violence?
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#6I'm not versed enough in political theory to know myself, but why have seemingly all communist movements and governments been so riddled with purges, paranoia, and violence?
I would hazard a guess that it has something to with most revolutions being riddle with purges, paranoia and violence, and then that most (AFAIK) modern revolutions are communist movements.
In other words, AFAIK (which isn't far), it's a trait of revolutions, not of communist movements.
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#7I'm not versed enough in political theory to know myself, but why have seemingly all communist movements and governments been so riddled with purges, paranoia, and violence?
I would hazard a guess that it has something to with most revolutions being riddle with purges, paranoia and violence, and then that most (AFAIK) modern revolutions are communist movements. In other words, AFAIK (which isn't far), it's a trait of revolutions, not of communist movements.
I think so. French Revolution had its Terror period.
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#8I'm not versed enough in political theory to know myself, but why have seemingly all communist movements and governments been so riddled with purges, paranoia, and violence?
Because communism is inherently a violent and paranoid ideology. It's blatantly obvious even in the foundational literature from Marx. Marx openly advocated violence and threatened violence against anyone who was opposed to the proletariat.
Not only that, but he construed a framework in which anything opposing the proletariat, including "class antagonisms" that could be literally anything, should be opposed with force or the threat of force. Things like religion, private property, or anything that is not for the revolution is necessarily considered against the revolution.
When the foundation of a worldview is steeped in violence and using violence to get your political way, it's no surprise that the implementation of that worldview results in bloodshed and power vacuums.
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#9I'm not versed enough in political theory to know myself, but why have seemingly all communist movements and governments been so riddled with purges, paranoia, and violence?
I would hazard a guess that it has something to with most revolutions being riddle with purges, paranoia and violence, and then that most (AFAIK) modern revolutions are communist movements. In other words, AFAIK (which isn't far), it's a trait of revolutions, not of communist movements.
Although genocide isn't usually a part of the revolution see the Holomdor.
Re: The Plot to Assassinate Orwell
#10I'm not versed enough in political theory to know myself, but why have seemingly all communist movements and governments been so riddled with purges, paranoia, and violence?
People fight against taxes.
Now imagine how much harder they would fight if the tax man wanted 100% of their income and wealth.
Now imagine what it takes for the tax man to overcome that resistance.
Purges, paranoia, and violence sounds like just the start.