History Is Running Backwards: The Global Rise of Reactionary Movements
This analytical piece from The Atlantic argues that the world is experiencing a significant historical reversal, moving away from the anticipated trajectory of liberal democracy, secularism, and modernization. Instead, there is a global resurgence of reactionary forces, characterized by a return to authoritarian strongmen, traditionalist religious movements, and nineteenth-century great-power rivalries. The author highlights examples such as Donald Trump’s personalized presidency, Vladimir Putin’s anti-liberal imperialism, and the growing appeal of Orthodox Christianity among young Americans. This shift is driven by a widespread sense of loss and nostalgia, as billions reject the perceived spiritual emptiness and confusion of modernity in favor of simpler, earlier eras. Whether seeking the social mores of the 1950s or the utopian socialism of the nineteenth century, political factions on both the right and left are drenched in nostalgia. The article challenges the condescending view that these impulses are merely unsophisticated fears, noting that civilizations have historically turned back the clock, citing the Renaissance and other historical precedents where societies rejected progress in favor of past ideals.
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History Is Running Backwards: The Global Rise of Reactionary Movements
This analytical piece from The Atlantic argues that the world is experiencing a significant historical reversal, moving away from the anticipated trajectory of liberal democracy, secularism, and modernization. Instead, there is a global resurgence of reactionary forces, characterized by a return to authoritarian strongmen, traditionalist religious movements, and nineteenth-century great-power rivalries. The author highlights examples such as Donald Trump’s personalized presidency, Vladimir Putin’s anti-liberal imperialism, and the growing appeal of Orthodox Christianity among young Americans. This shift is driven by a widespread sense of loss and nostalgia, as billions reject the perceived spiritual emptiness and confusion of modernity in favor of simpler, earlier eras. Whether seeking the social mores of the 1950s or the utopian socialism of the nineteenth century, political factions on both the right and left are drenched in nostalgia. The article challenges the condescending view that these impulses are merely unsophisticated fears, noting that civilizations have historically turned back the clock, citing the Renaissance and other historical precedents where societies rejected progress in favor of past ideals.
The Atlantic