The opposition between progressist and reactionary idea is very traditional. It was for instance the case in the Jewish religion between the Talmudists Hillel (who had quite reformist ideas) and Chammaï (who had quite reactionary ideas) the beginning of the Christian era ; more recently a important symbol of this conflict was the Secession war in the United States, which is representing the war between the “two” Americas which is still continuing, even if it is a lot softer way. In France, for instance, this opposition can be seen in the contradictory legacy of the French Revolution and colonialism. However, the recent period shows a real return of reactionary ideas in politics and overall in society. For instance many aspects of the oppressive bourgeoisie of the XIXth century are coming back, even if it is a softer way than at this time. It is the reason why, 30 years after the fall of the Berlin wall and the fall of USSR, this traditional conflict is coming back.
This return can be seen in several ways. In my opinion it comes from the ideas of the school of Chicago in the 1970’s which put into place neoliberalism. This kind of liberalism is quite opposed to classical liberalism, to the extend it is promoting a kind of oligarchy and a social aristocracy. This kind of aristocracy is taking into account the evolutions of liberalism which is a lot more inclusive than in the XIXth century for instance. Thatcher and Reagan put into place in politics this neoliberal model which is dominant today. The ‘glorious 30 years’ which was dominated by Keynesianism, which is reformist, that really began with the advent to power of Roosevelt in the 1930’s was not anymore leading the economy in the Western world. This opposition between Keynesianism and neoliberalism is actually very traditional in the Anglo Saxon world where Protestantism is the leading religion and frames the political background (which can be seen in the controversy between Obama and Trump) ; and Protestantism is the closest Christian religion to Judaism, this opposition is quite close to the traditional controversy between Hillel and Chammaï in the theological field.
This more and more important domination of reactionary ideas in the Western world should alert us. The same way reformism is a shadow ally of anarchism, reactionarism is a shadow ally of fascism. It is the reason why in my opinion the humanistic ideas should ally more to counter the rising influence of these ideas. The power of reactionary ideas should not be underestimated. For instance the extreme right is using more classical liberal methods than the conservatives for instance ; it can give the illusion of the ‘overman’ which is distorting the idea of Nietzsche. This aspiration of being an ‘overman’ is an inner human aspiration, but humanistic ideas can give responses, making life not banal or ordinary being ethical as well. To this extend promoting education, culture, reading and studying more can fight these tendencies. Classical ideas also promote creativity and promoting arts for instance can counterbalance bad aspirations. It is the reason why the reactionary tendencies in politics, that can be seen with Trump in the United States or le Pen in France can be fought in a long term engagement in society. In my opinion, the promotion of the ‘old school’ ideas, whose values are threatened today, can contribute to this in the surface and underground reaction.
This return, which is quite classical in history, can be counterbalanced but this commitment must be political in an international scale as well. In my opinion ideologies can be efficient is they are promoted an international way. It is a reason why Marx succeed a lot better than Hegel to promote his ideas. To this extend democratic and humanistic political parties should collaborate more in an international scale to face this rise of reactionary ideas which going beyond borders as well.
The observer 