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-Caveat Lector-
Neofeudalism
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism)
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Unbalanced_scales.svg)
The _neutrality_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view) of this article
is _disputed_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPOV_dispute) .
Please see the discussion on the _talk page_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Neofeudalism) .
Please do not remove this message until the _dispute is resolved._
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:NPOVD#What_is_an_NPOV_dispute.3F)
Neofeudalism literally means "New _Feudalism_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudalism) " and implies a contemporary rebirth
of policies of _governance_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governance) and _economy_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy) reminiscent of those present in many
_pre-industrial_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-industrial) feudal societies. The concept is
one in
which government policies are instituted with the effect (deliberate or
otherwise) of systematically increasing the _wealth_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth) _gap_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_distribution) between the
rich and the poor while increasing the power of the rich and decreasing the
power of the poor (also see _wealth condensation_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealth_condensation) ). This effect is considered
to be similar to the
effects of traditional feudalism. The precise meaning of the term is in
question and
can be employed as a _pejorative term_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pejorative_term) to attack _political_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political)
opponents.
General
Among the concerns of those who perceive (correctly or otherwise) an
emergence of neofeudalism in contemporary society are class stratification,
_globalization_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization) , _multinational
corporations_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_corporation) , and
"_corporatism_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatism) ."_[1]_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism#_note-0)
Neofeudalism is part of the controversy over _income redistribution_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_redistribution) born out of massive
societal
shifts during the _industrial revolution_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_revolution) . At the time the issue
was wealth disparity between _classes_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_class) , landholders, entrepreneurs,
peasants, workers, and other economic and social groups. Neofeudalism
encompasses
the current debate over globalization to include entire societies, countries,
regions ("North" versus "South," "Western" versus "non-Western"), and
supra-national non-state actors. Unlike other _geopolitical_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geopolitics) issues such as _environmentalism_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism) and _security_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security)
, the charge of "neofeudalism" largely focuses on _economics_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economics) .
In a party-neutral definition of the term, the traits ascribed to a
supposedly emerging neofeudalism would not belong to one political party alone
but are
emergent throughout the whole political system in all or at least several
major parties. Under this description the common factor linking neofeudal
characteristics could best be described as "the business interests catered to
by a
given party" which describes a version of neofeudalism with its origin squarely
in the realm of business interests and the interests of business owners
advancing agendas that benefit them personally through _political action
committees_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_action_committees) and _lobbying_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying) efforts directed at politicians not in
one, but in every political party. This is one version of the "accidental" or
unintentional definition of neofeudalism and describes it as the projected end
result of rich individuals influencing politics strongly to their personal
advantage over time. In this party-neutral definition there is no _cabal_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabal) or _secret society_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_society) deliberately guiding national
politics, but rather the sum
effect of the pressures put on politics by the _wealthy_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wealthy) or _elite_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elite) can be
described as moving towards a sort of "new feudalism" simply because such
systems evolved to serve the interests of the elite in antiquated instances as
well.
One retort to application of the term neofeudalism is that such historical
feudalism maintained _caste_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste) outside of
consideration for _capital_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_(economics))
,
where wealth divides could only make _merchants_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant) out of common men, and class gaps of
_aristocracy_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy) were unbreachable even by private
wealth until
the late stages and breakdown of feudalism. To that extent, the labeling of
monopoly capitalism as neofeudalism can be seen as a _misnomer_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Misnomer) .
Others would argue, however, that the prefix "neo-" is distinctly meant to
separate modern feudalism from the old kind and that use of the term only means
that it mimics many of the effects of the old feudalism: an entrenched,
fabulously wealthy elite, held in place by low taxes on capital and no taxes on
estates; and a large and growing class of uneducated, unskilled labor brought
in
by unchecked immigration (both legal and illegal), and kept in check by high
levels of personal debt, and high taxes on earned income (payroll, income,
sales, property, etc.)
Another specific and alternative application of the term neofeudalism alleges
that corporate and government policies make workers dependent on the
corporations, as well as making the economic power of the corporations greater
than
the power of national _governments_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government) .
This, detractors say, leads to a situation where workers are dependent on
private interests that are more powerful than government, resembling the
situation
that prevailed during historic feudalism. Although it should be noted that in
feudal law localized _prerogatives_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prerogative) were considered government.
Use and Etymology
There is controversy over the correct application of neofeudalism as a term,
and its political usage is often highly charged with partisan prejudice.
Neofeudalism is often used by critics to describe political policies of
opponents,
and in extreme cases there may be asserted to be a deliberate drive towards a
re-imagination of feudal systems of governance for implementation within the
context of an _information age_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_age)
society.
The term seems to have been originated as a criticism of the paternalistic
left; an early example being the essay _Galbraith's_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kenneth_Galbraith) Neo-Feudalism_[2]_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism#_note-1) published in 1961. The
term is still used by some on the
right in that sense in the twenty-first century:
Although he would later become a naturalized American citizen, Soros remains
in social outlook very much a European and believer in the paternalistic
neo-feudalism euphemistically called "democratic socialism" or "social
democracy."
_[3]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism#_note-2)
One of its applications to current politicians is that it explains the
support of some for both high levels of nearly uncontrolled immigration and of
reduced taxation on the rich. Politicians thus targeted by the term are also
frequently opposed to minimum wage laws, claiming they would reduce job
opportunities for the poor and the young, even though their support for open
borders is
based on the claim that the economy is already producing too many jobs. These
policies, traditionalists say, would continue to devalue the labor of the
working class while creating a wealthy elite that is permanently entrenched in
the
style of a a feudal state. Other applications might include pointing to an
individual politician's family history of holding high elected office as
possible
evidence supporting accusations of an emerging _hereditary_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary) _aristocracy_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy) (another common characteristic of
feudal societies).
ORIGINAL VERSION:
_http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:Xj1_pRxxq_sJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism+neocon+OR+bush+OR+wikipedia+OR+pnac+OR+cia+OR+atom+OR
+nazi+%22Lowell+Ponte%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us&ie=UTF-8_
(http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:Xj1_pRxxq_sJ:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism+neocon+OR+b
ush+OR+wikipedia+OR+pnac+OR+cia+OR+atom+OR+nazi+"Lowell+Ponte"&hl=en&ct=clnk&c
d=2&gl=us&ie=UTF-8)
One of its applications to current politicians, especially by conservatives
who wish to distance themselves from the policies of _President George W Bush_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_George_W_Bush) , is that it explains
the support of some Republicans for both high levels of nearly uncontrolled
immigration and of reduced taxation on the rich. Such politicians are also
frequently opposed to minimum wage laws, claiming they would reduce job
opportunities for the poor and the young, even though their support for open
borders is
based on the claim that the economy is already producing too many jobs. These
policies, traditionalists say, would continue to devalue the labor of the
working class while creating a wealthy elite that is permanently entrenched.
They
also use Bush's family history (being the son of a president and grandson of a
US Senator) as proof of an aristocratic bent in President Bush.
Traditional Feudalism
Feudalism is a political system of power dispersed and balanced between
_king_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King) and nobles. This is a weak system
and
it refers to a general set of _reciprocal_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reciprocal) _legal_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal) and _military_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military) obligations among the warrior
_nobility_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nobility) of Europe during the _Middle Ages_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages) , revolving around the three key
concepts
of _lords_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lords) , _vassals_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vassals) , and _fiefs_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiefs) .
Neofeudalism in popular culture
* _Frank Herbert_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Herbert) 's
_Dune_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_universe) series of novels set in
the
distant future with a neofeudalistic galactic empire known as the Imperium
after
the _Butlerian Jihad_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butlerian_Jihad) which
prohibits all kinds of thinking machine technology, even its simpler forms.
References
1. _^_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism#_ref-0) Thom
Hartmann, "Time to Remove the Bananas...and Return Our Republic to Democracy",
CommonDreams.org, 6 November 2002 _[1]_
(http://www.commondreams.org/views02/1106-07.htm)
2. _^_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism#_ref-1) _George
Reisman_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Reisman) Human Events, February
1961
_[2]_ (http://www.mises.org/web/2793)
3. _^_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism#_ref-2) Lowell Ponte
"George Soros: Billionaire for the Left" Front Page Magazine, November 13,
2003
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism_Controversy_in_United_States_Politi
cs_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism_Controversy_in_United_States_Politics)
There is controversy over the correct application of _Neofeudalism_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism) as a term, and its political usage
is
often highly charged with _partisan_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partisan)
prejudice. Neofeudalism is often used by critics to describe political policies
of
opponents, and in extreme cases there may be asserted to be a deliberate
drive towards a re-imagination of _feudal_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feudal)
systems of governance for implementation within the context of an _information
age_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_age) society.
The term seems to have been originated as a criticism of the paternalistic
left; an early example being the essay _Galbraith's_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kenneth_Galbraith) Neo-Feudalism_[1]_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism_Controversy_in_United_States_Politics#_note-0)
published in 1961.
The term is still used by some on the right in that sense in the twenty-first
century:
Although he would later become a naturalized American citizen, Soros remains
in social outlook very much a European and believer in the paternalistic
neo-feudalism euphemistically called "democratic socialism" or "social
democracy."
_[2]_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neofeudalism_Controversy_in_United_States_Politics#_note-1)
Applications
One of its applications to current politicians is that it explains the
support of some for both high levels of nearly uncontrolled immigration and of
reduced _taxation_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation) on the rich.
Politicians thus targeted by the term are also frequently opposed to minimum
wage laws,
claiming they would reduce job opportunities for the poor and the young, even
though their support for open borders is based on the claim that the economy
is already producing too many jobs. These policies, traditionalists say, would
continue to devalue the labor of the working class while creating a wealthy
elite that is permanently entrenched in the style of a a feudal state. Other
applications might include pointing to an individual politician's family
history
of holding high elected office as possible evidence supporting accusations of
an emerging _hereditary_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hereditary)
_aristocracy_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy) (another common
characteristic
of feudal societies).
************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
www.ctrl.org
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substanceânot soap-boxingâplease! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'âwith its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright fraudsâis used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/
<A HREF="http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
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