Sean McMeekin, a historian from Bard College and author of "To Overthrow the World," delves into the surprising resurgence of communism as a governing ideology. He discusses the violent history of communism, exploring figures like Stalin and Mao, and critiques the 'whitewashing' of Marx's violent roots. McMeekin also reflects on American attitudes toward communism, the concept of 'permanent revolution,' and how the political landscape today mirrors past ideologies. His insights provoke a reexamination of civil liberties and the enduring appeal of leftist thought.
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insights INSIGHT
Communism's Allure and Violence
Communism's allure rests on the promise of forced equality and utopian ideals.
This alluring vision often overshadows the inherent violence required to achieve it.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Paris Commune and Marx
The Paris Commune of 1871 exemplified the violence inherent in communist uprisings.
Marx, despite some non-orthodox practices, endorsed the Commune's violence.
insights INSIGHT
Lenin's Innovations
Lenin introduced the concept of a "vanguard" of professional revolutionaries to guide the workers.
He also advocated using war as a catalyst for communist revolutions worldwide.
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In 'To Overthrow the World', Sean McMeekin explores the evolution of Communism from a seductive ideal of a classless society into the ruling doctrine of tyrannical regimes. The book spans from Karl Marx’s writings to the rise and fall of the USSR under Stalin, Mao’s rise to power in China, and the acceleration of Communist or Communist-inspired policies in the twenty-first century. McMeekin argues that despite its endurance, Communism remains deeply unpopular as a political form and has always arisen by force. The book provides a thorough and readable account of how Communism has endured through the twentieth century and its ongoing influence today.
The Soviet Union collapsed at the end of 1991, taking down with it the threat of international communism, right? Today's guest says no, writing that, "Far from dead, Communism as a governing template seems only to be getting started." Sean McMeekin is a historian at Bard College and the author of the mesmerizing book To Overthrow the World: The Rise and Fall and Rise of Communism. Reason's Nick Gillespie talks with him about the history of communism, how its focus on forced equality is inherently violent, and how Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, and others each brought particular flourishes and horrors to its practice.
Gillespie and McMeekin talk about why communism has enduring and resurgent appeal in the West despite its history of violence and economic disaster. "We dodged a certain bullet" with the election of Trump, McMeekin says, but he argues that "whatever party is in power in Washington, I think we always have to jealously guard our civil liberties and we have to just constantly remind ourselves of what our values are and are supposed to be."
1:41 — The enduring appeal of communism
3:55 — The "whitewashing" of Karl Marx's appetite for violence
7:02 — How Vladimir Lenin changed communism
16:38 — American attitudes toward communism
23:44 — Leon Trotsky's idea of "permanent revolution" and Lenin's legacy
28:35 — Violence didn't deter communism's appeal to many
33:33 — The left's flip-flopping on interventionism in World War II
36:54 — Mao, Khmer Rouge, and communism in Asia
45:22 — Western radicals and Maoism
50:27 — Black intellectuals' engagement with communism
57:51 — Is communism making a comeback?
1:06:20 — Does communism still appeal to the young?
1:11:19 — How does Donald Trump map onto all this?
1:16:43 — The politicization of the means of communication
The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie 