by Sennholz
[Introduction and the Rise of the Extreme Right]: Hans Sennholz introduces the political landscape of the 1964 election, arguing that 'Liberal' attacks on 'right-wing extremism' are strategic attempts to weaken the Republican Party and Senator Barry Goldwater. He defines the Extreme Right as a movement diametrically opposed to collectivism and committed to the founding principles of individual liberty and private property. While acknowledging a 'dubious fringe' within the movement, Sennholz argues that the core conservative mission is an educational task aimed at restoring the American republic through a gradual renewal of traditional values. [The Radical Left and W.W. Rostow's Economic Stages]: Sennholz critiques the 'Radical Left' through an analysis of Walt Whitman Rostow’s 'The Stages of Economic Growth.' He argues that despite Rostow's claim of providing a non-communist alternative to Marx, his theory is rooted in the same ontological materialism and denial of human freedom. Sennholz contends that Rostow’s focus on spontaneous technological stages and government-guided growth ignores the necessity of individual saving and capital accumulation, ultimately muddling the distinction between Western capitalism and Eastern collectivism. [Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. and the Doctrine of Class Conflict]: This section examines Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. as a representative of radical collectivism within the Kennedy administration. Sennholz argues that Schlesinger’s 'vital center' is a facade for Marxist doctrines such as class warfare and the exploitation of labor by capital. Through an analysis of Schlesinger’s writings, Sennholz highlights a deep-seated contempt for the business community and the 'rentier class,' characterizing Schlesinger's rhetoric against contemporary conservatives as demagogic and inflammatory. [McGeorge Bundy and the Principle of National Purpose]: Sennholz critiques McGeorge Bundy’s advocacy for a 'national purpose' defined solely by the President, equating this to the authoritarian principle of 'Führer and Gefolgschaft.' Drawing on F.A. Hayek’s 'Road to Serfdom,' the author warns that such collectivist ideologies rely on negative selection and the suppression of individual choice. The essay concludes by contrasting the 'drum beats' of radical collectivism—including Marxian, Leninist, and Khrushchevite doctrines—with the conservative effort to rejuvenate traditional Western values of liberty, private property, and responsibility to God.
Hans Sennholz introduces the political landscape of the 1964 election, arguing that 'Liberal' attacks on 'right-wing extremism' are strategic attempts to weaken the Republican Party and Senator Barry Goldwater. He defines the Extreme Right as a movement diametrically opposed to collectivism and committed to the founding principles of individual liberty and private property. While acknowledging a 'dubious fringe' within the movement, Sennholz argues that the core conservative mission is an educational task aimed at restoring the American republic through a gradual renewal of traditional values.
Read full textSennholz critiques the 'Radical Left' through an analysis of Walt Whitman Rostow’s 'The Stages of Economic Growth.' He argues that despite Rostow's claim of providing a non-communist alternative to Marx, his theory is rooted in the same ontological materialism and denial of human freedom. Sennholz contends that Rostow’s focus on spontaneous technological stages and government-guided growth ignores the necessity of individual saving and capital accumulation, ultimately muddling the distinction between Western capitalism and Eastern collectivism.
Read full textThis section examines Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. as a representative of radical collectivism within the Kennedy administration. Sennholz argues that Schlesinger’s 'vital center' is a facade for Marxist doctrines such as class warfare and the exploitation of labor by capital. Through an analysis of Schlesinger’s writings, Sennholz highlights a deep-seated contempt for the business community and the 'rentier class,' characterizing Schlesinger's rhetoric against contemporary conservatives as demagogic and inflammatory.
Read full textSennholz critiques McGeorge Bundy’s advocacy for a 'national purpose' defined solely by the President, equating this to the authoritarian principle of 'Führer and Gefolgschaft.' Drawing on F.A. Hayek’s 'Road to Serfdom,' the author warns that such collectivist ideologies rely on negative selection and the suppression of individual choice. The essay concludes by contrasting the 'drum beats' of radical collectivism—including Marxian, Leninist, and Khrushchevite doctrines—with the conservative effort to rejuvenate traditional Western values of liberty, private property, and responsibility to God.
Read full text