5 ms·

Hitchens is still a liberal whether he is neoconservative or not because neoconservatism is a form of liberalism. Its just "liberalism in one country", or "gre

Hitchens is still a liberal whether he is neoconservative or not because neoconservatism is a form of liberalism. Its just "liberalism in one country", or "great power liberalism" i.e. in the US context the constitution doesn't apply to our enemies, which regardless of whether or not it is moral or wise in modern times, it is certainly an accurate reading of the text and intent of the constitution. Neoconservatism for instance is almost always framed as defending liberal societies against illiberal societies, as an ideology its adherents hold liberalism in very high regard. The common arguments against neoconservatism are that they hold liberalism in too high of regard/violently high regard, and of course that you cannot be truly liberal if you are illiberal in fighting illiberalism. I still remember that Poppins quote being used by neocons to justify ugly wars, before it became popular with young Democrats during the Trump years.

cmrdporcupine 4y ago
Before his neo-con conversion, Hitchens was explicitly some kind of social democrat or socialist, but not "liberal" in the US sense in that he routinely viciously criticized American liberals for their hypocrisy and for their pro-capital, pro-imperialist positions. Jacobin had a reasonably decent article about this recently. https://jacobin.com/2022/09/christopher-hitchens-essays-left-neoconservative https://jacobin.com/2022/09/christopher-hitchens-essays-left... But yes I understand you're meaning liberal in the European/classical sense more than the American sense. US politics are wacked. In any case, it's all hypocrisy. Conservative or liberal alike in the US and other western countries will all mostly fold in behind oppressive governments and very illiberal policies the moment their nation state and established financial order is threatened. We got a taste of that after 9/11, but we will likely see far worse in the future.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]

cmrdporcupine 4y ago

Before his neo-con conversion, Hitchens was explicitly some kind of social democrat or socialist, but not "liberal" in the US sense in that he routinely viciously criticized American liberals for their hypocrisy and for their pro-capital, pro-imperialist positions. Jacobin had a reasonably decent article about this recently. https://jacobin.com/2022/09/christopher-hitchens-essays-left-neoconservative https://jacobin.com/2022/09/christopher-hitchens-essays-left... But yes I understand you're meaning liberal in the European/classical sense more than the American sense. US politics are wacked. In any case, it's all hypocrisy. Conservative or liberal alike in the US and other western countries will all mostly fold in behind oppressive governments and very illiberal policies the moment their nation state and established financial order is threatened. We got a taste of that after 9/11, but we will likely see far worse in the future.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]