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I think the author is trying to assert the general prerogatives of academics to do the analyzing of fascism so there is an element of turf battle, and not a small one, in Laruelle's critique. It appears that she nails Snyder on the issue of over-promoting Ivan Ilyin as the ideologue of Putin's fascism, as well as just plain catching him lying on several occasions. But over-promoting one specific brand of fascism does not in itself refute the general charge of fascism. I believe the analysis put forward by whoever wrote Ravings of a Radical Vagabond (not an academic platform, I can assure you) shows in great detail that Putin is aligning with all manner of fascist-minded people, not excluding people we used to regard as sort-of comrades. Of course this does not prima facie make him a fascist. There were innumerable different brands of fascism grouped together in the Nazi party. Hitler famously refused to have any discussion of the NSDAP's original 1923 program of 25 points, stating that a bad program was better than a discussion of program. Behind that statement was the reality that major currents in the NSDAP supported "left" elements of that program, including the nationalization of industry, the suppression of interest on loans, the absorption of the SA into the Reichswehr and other items about which Hitler either did not give a shit or was totally opposed to. They were allowed to co-exist because Hitler found them useful, as opposed to politically correct. When no longer useful, such people and their particular and peculiar takes on what fascism ought to look like were simply exterminated, as happened in the Night of the Long Knives. So, although she nails Snyder, I don't think she makes her case. I would have to read a bunch of her stuff to figure out more about this. I may find this site useful as I try to find critiques of Arendt. If anyone gets this far in this piece and knows of such material, I would appreciate a citation. _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
