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But there is one aspect in which the traditional left/right divide can be said to survive, and that is solidarity as a value, which is really the distinguishing feature.

Some European right-wing parties do subscribe to solidarity, too. However, only in nationalist terms; and all the same it is a cover for class war from above.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Sat Oct 3rd, 2009 at 02:27:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Some European right-wing parties do subscribe to solidarity, too. However, only in nationalist terms; and all the same it is a cover for class war from above.

The term "solidarity" as I have come to see it has little to do with the tactics and structure of most rightist parties, both European and in the US- Republicans. Class war? It's something more than that.

In the same way that Naomi Kline has found a good way to describe understandably the pattern of plunder that emerges from the neolib/IMF "structural adjustment" of as much of the world as the Freidmanites can get their hands on, Bob Altemeyer and George Lakoff help to illustrate the powerful human need of a major chunk of the population for a father-like maximum leader, and the semantic/psychological tactics that help the right's leaders to use this huge army to promote their agenda.

Perhaps I'm naive, but when I think of "solidarity", I think of a half million students marching past Opera Bastille with signs that say, "We are the future of France. We are not expendable!"

Different sort of thing.


Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.

by geezer in Paris (risico at wanadoo(flypoop)fr) on Sun Oct 4th, 2009 at 06:08:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The term "solidarity" as I have come to see it has little to do with the tactics and structure of most rightist parties, both European and in the US- Republicans.

I don't know about "most", maybe true maybe not, but definitely not all. However, you live in Western Europe, where nationalism has been curbed even on the right, and where many far-right parties are also tax-cut populists. Further East and Southeast, you'll find lots of conservative parties that preach the community of the nation, and solidarity with fellow members of it. Even if these parties usually represent one elite or another that provately looks down on the masses of co-nationals and pursues economic policies hurting them. What was different from left-wing solidarity is the exclusivism: no solidarity with non-nationals or those branded traitor, and the prime occasion for a show of solidarity is in a nationalist conflict with other nationals.

I also note that in Poland, it's in the name: the present hard-right parties grew out of Solidarność.

Even for most West European conservative parties, the concept of national solidarity used to be a main theme in some form, and residual traces remain (f.e. even though German Christians believe in charity, too, the welfare state was started in Germany under the conservative Bismarck).

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Sun Oct 4th, 2009 at 07:44:46 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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