The Total State: How Liberal Democracies Become Tyrannies (Auron MacIntyre)
Jul 17, 2024
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Author Auron MacIntyre discusses his book 'The Total State: How Liberal Democracies Become Tyrannies' on the podcast, exploring topics such as elite control of democracies, the transformation into tyrannies, the total state's objectives, and potential paths for collapse or transformation.
The rise of the Total State is fueled by the collapse of social spheres into state control under liberalism.
The Total State seeks to eliminate competition and establish itself as the exclusive authority defining friend-enemy distinctions.
Deep dives
The Emergence of the Total State
The podcast explores the concept of the Total State, delving into how liberal democracies transform into tyrannies. It critiques the American attachment to the Constitution, highlighting how the current regime diverges significantly from its principles. McIntyre's analysis unveils the Total State's influence, not bound by constitutional constraints but marked by pervasive control over public perception and unprecedented state power.
Liberalism's Role in State Expansion
The discussion delves into how classical liberalism, rather than preventing the rise of the Total State, contributed to its emergence. By collapsing social spheres into the state, liberalism inadvertently fueled the expansion of state power to all-encompassing levels. McIntyre draws on Schmitt's insights to emphasize that the state aims to eliminate competition, positioning itself as the ultimate authority to define friend-enemy distinctions.
Transitioning Beyond the Total State
Examining potential futures, the podcast speculates on the decline and transformation of the Total State. McIntyre suggests potential outcomes ranging from a Caesarist solution to a gradual collapse leading to a new societal structure. Emphasizing local and regional actions as pivotal, the narrative encourages a shift towards rebuilding intermediary institutions and shouldering responsibilities for a thriving post-Total State future.
How and why we came to live under a suffocating tyranny, and what can be done about it.
The written version of this review can be found here (https://theworthyhouse.com/2024/07/17/the-total-state-how-liberal-democracies-become-tyrannies-auron-macintyre/)