Totalitarian Centrism

KMO welcomes John Michael Greer, the Archdruid, back to the C-Realm Podcast to talk about binary thaumaturgy and other means by which political conversation in the United States has been reduced to meaningless utterances meant to divide the population into antagonistic factions. Phatic communication which is devoid of substantive content has replace analysis in contemporary political discourse, particularly on television. In response to a question about the danger of austerity playing into the hands of right wing demagogues and giving rise to fascism, JMG explains that fascism is not a right-wing phenomenon. Rather, fascism is something that arises from the neglected center when divisive political language has driven participants to extremes and left the center unrepresented in mainstream discourse. Polarizing language clears the way for totalitarian centrism.

 

Music by The Little Stevies.

 

Here previous conversations between John Michael Greer and KMO about JMG's books:

 

The Long Descent: A User's Guide to the End of the Industrial Age

The Ecotechnic Future: Exploring a Post-Peak World

The Wealth of Nature: Economics As If Survival Mattered