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Title: The menace of the herd: Or, Procrustes at large (Studies in conservative philosophy) by Francis Stuart Campbell, Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn ISBN: 0-87968-372-4 Publisher: Gordon Press Pub. Date: 1978 Format: Unknown Binding |
Average Customer Rating: 5 (2 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: The Dangers of Herdism.
Comment: _The Menace of the Herd_ is an early work by Erik von Kuhnelt-Liddehn (writing under the name Francis Stuart Campbell), the famous German Roman Catholic Rightist and anti-democrat, written near the end of the Second World War. The subtitle of this book is 'Procrustes at Large', and Kuhnelt-Liddehn bases his argument around the Greek myth of Procrustes who made individuals fit his bed by either stretching them or cutting off their legs ' standing for inflexibility and the herdist desire for levelling. In this book, Kuhnelt-Liddehn shows the dangers of herdism ' seen in democratic levelling, identitarianism, and collectivism ' and opposes this to the traditional Christian principles emhasizing morality, personalism, liberty, aristocratism, and monarchy. The author writes much against the developments of modern man in both technology and government, with a pastoralist hankering for tradition, an agriculturally based life (including the tradition of private property), and religion as revealed in medieval society and in the tradition of the Roman Catholic Church. The author sees much in city life which lends itself to herdism and much in modern democracy which is really ochlocracy ('mob rule'). To the author, technological developments and modern 'progress' have negative aspects which are so conveniently overlooked and hidden from view by their modern trumpeters. Opposed to these developments and to modern industrialized, democratized, levelled, and urbanized culture stands the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, Christian morality, and the tradition of monarchy. The author's advocation of monarchy may appear extreme; however, the author notes that a just monarch rules his subjects out of love (monarchy consists in loving obedience to a just monarch just as one may give oneself freely to a lover in love) and often in monarchies of the past individuals have enjoyed more liberties than in modern day democracies (which amount to ochlocracies). Many other thinkers of the past including Plato, Aristotle, Saint Thomas Aquinas, and de Toquenville have found democracy ('tyranny of the masses' or 'tyranny of the majority') to be problematic. It is this worship of identity and conformism as opposed to difference and diversity as well as a levelling effect based on 'equality' which crushes all difference and genuine diversity (as opposed to the false form of diversity which is merely egoistic individualism). This effect may be seen in both the movements of Communism and Fascism (and National Socialism) in which collectivistic, nationalistic, and identitarian (often racist) elements emerge to enforce sameness. In the second half of the book, the author turns his attention to both Germany and America with reference to recent history (the First and Second World Wars). The author finds much to criticize in the Second and Third Reichs of recent German history following the First World War. Against these regimes the author yearns for the Roman Catholic German empire free from herdist instincts gone mad. The author next turns his attention to England and what grew from its colonies, America ' the United States and its republic. The author notes that America lacks a titled aristocracy and that this leads to a constant craving for success and achievement among its citizens. The author is critical of the democratic and herdist elements within American society and contrasts these elements with European society. Finally, the author turns his attention to the Second World War. The author notes that this war involves an epic conflict, but that it must be fought over 'liberty' and not 'democracy' (which in fact is more represented by the Axis forces, both Hitler and Mussolini being 'democratically' elected and enjoying mass appeal). The author argues for a just peace and for a peace agreement with Germany that is both humane and truly Christian ' as opposed to one which is based entirely on the lust for vengeance. Finally, the author contrasts a mere leader (such as Hitler or Mussolini or even the American President) who is a 'man of the people' with a ruler, who often resides completely outside the people as in the old monarchical tradition. It is the herdist tendency in man which poses such a threat to his liberty and to his great traditions, prime among them the religious tradition embodied in Christianity, which the author argues so vehemently against. In an era which has seen the rise of totalitarian regimes, it is important that we heed the words of individuals like Kuhnelt-Liddehn (a.k.a. Samuel Francis Capbell) in our assessment of the dangers of democracy and the readiness with which man can surrender his liberties and give into the rule of the mad mob, i.e. ochlocracy. Since the French Revolution, egalitarian and democratic tendencies have proliferated within government and their dangers must be noted as we witness the rise of totalitarian regimes with full support of the people. Like all his books, _The Menace of the Herd_ abounds in obscure references and useful quotes and pieces of information and reveals the author's learning and profound mind. Complete with footnotes and appendix this book offers a challenging assessment of the modern world and man's need to overcome his base (herdist) instinct.
Rating: 5
Summary: Another K-L title to return to again and again
Comment: I'm a big, big fan -- I should say, a devoted student -- of Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn (1909-1999), author of a great many articles and books, including "Liberty or Equality?" and "Leftism Revisited," books I've been putting off reviewing for many years for fear I couldn't do them justice. "The Menace of the Herd," published under a pseudonym in 1943 (when Americans were not too interested in reading books by authors with Germanic names), is less well known than the two books just mentioned. But it, too, is a fascinating read, and well worth the effort of tracking down -- especially for other K-L fans, but for any student of history, politics, religion, or culture.
Anyone familiar with K-L's later works will find many of the themes of those works being developed here. Although (as I realized with a shock about half way through the book) K-L was just 34 when this was published, his distinctive style is already fully developed: assertive, contrarian, polyglot, unapologetically Catholic, and richly sourced and documented. He already has his favorite quotes, his favorite examples, his favorite turns of phrase.
And yet, while this book is recognizably K-L, there are many valuable arguments in "The Menace of the Herd" that make it far more than just a first-draft of "Liberty or Equality" or "Leftism." His central point is a dramatic challenge to "herdism" and mass democracy (or "ochlocracy," as he calls it), in which all positive virtues are overwhelmed the lowest-common-denominator of simple majoritarianism. The positive virtues, for K-L, include piety, aristocracy, responsibility, personalism (which he distinguishes from "individualism"), and, of course, Catholicism.
Within this argument, K-L makes many smaller points that any thoughtful reader will want to turn over in her mind carefully. These include a fascinating discussion of the classical Christian view of rewards in eternity versus happiness in the here-and-now (and how this affects life in predominantly Catholic nations); the harm caused by the modern educational focus on "how" (science, math) instead of "why" (philosophy, theology); the myth of militarism and nationalism as conservative or "rightist" movements (K-L calls this, in caps, the Great Error of the Century); and much more. Just as intriguing and thought-provoking are his asides and footnotes, including the relative sinfulness of despotism versus mob rule, the differences between "statism," "nationalism," "racialism," "patriotism," and "imperialism," and this gem: "Neither are the progressivists, in present-day America, revolutionaries or enemies of the order. Being 'radical' or 'progressive' they merely want to continue with greater speed and determination along the established, wrong trail" [p. 218].
At the same time, K-L posits some arguments that may well make his conservative and libertarian fans uncomfortable. These include a strong argument against "capitalism" as a "herdist" instinct, and the above-mentioned opposition to "individualism," as distinguished from "personalism." At one point, K-L argues that advertising increases the cost of consumer goods -- a point Mises effectively demolished in chapter 15 of "Human Action." This is one aspect of the early K-L that is much less prominent in his later works.
Finally, since this book was published in the middle of World War Two, I should note that it contains a fascinating discussion of German and Austrian history, and a study of the cultures and characteristics of "the Germanies," that put both world wars in a new and highly intriguing light for me.
"Liberty and Equality" and "Leftism Revisited" are both, as I've noted elsewhere, books that I return to again and again, trying to absorb the learning and the perspective and get my mind around arguments and insights that are highly counter-intuitive for many Americans -- even contrarians like me -- steeped as we are in a culture that worships "democracy" and the "common man" above all else. "Menace of the Herd" now takes its place beside those other books. I strongly encourage any of my fellow K-L students to expend every effort to get a copy of this for your own library. It more than repays the time and money.
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Title: Liberty or Equality by Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn ISBN: 0931888514 Publisher: Christendom Press Pub. Date: 01 November, 1993 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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Title: After Liberalism: Mass Democracy in the Managerial State. by Paul Edward Gottfried ISBN: 0691089825 Publisher: Princeton University Press Pub. Date: 01 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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