Podcast Summary: "We Live in a Totalitarian Society"

WhatifAlthist with Rudyard Lynch | February 13, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Rudyard Lynch explores the concept that modern Western societies—particularly in the United States and its cultural peers—have evolved into a unique and deeply pervasive form of totalitarian democracy. By tracing the roots and differences between authoritarianism and totalitarianism through world history, philosophy, and culture, Lynch unpacks how past regimes compare to our current systems and argues that the industrial and post-industrial eras have created unprecedented controls over individual life. The episode delivers a critical, thought-provoking reflection on how historical patterns and philosophical paradigms shape the political and social dynamics of today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The 20th Century’s Shadow and Modern Assumptions

• Lynch examines how his generational perspective (as a Zoomer) shapes his interpretation of history, viewing the 20th century as remote but pivotal.
• He argues that the 20th century marked a dramatic break with thousands of years of human consensus on societal principles, resulting in philosophical errors that linger today.

  "Our current era of history is the finishing act of the long 20th century, which started with World War I and is going to end with whatever political crisis we're about to have." (02:44)

2. Authoritarianism vs. Totalitarianism: Key Distinctions

Authoritarianism:

• Nearly all historical societies were authoritarian, where leaders sought political loyalty but largely left personal and private life alone.
• Pre-industrial societies extracted a much smaller portion (2-3%) of economic value compared to today's states (40-66%).
• Authoritarian regimes, including many dictatorships, allowed for significant personal freedom in day-to-day life.

Totalitarianism:

• Lynch distinguishes totalitarianism as the drive for the state to control every aspect of life: religion, economy, family, social interactions.
• He uses proxies such as control over religion, family, and the market as indicators of totalitarian tendencies.
• Notably, the term "totalitarian" originated as a positive in Mussolini’s Italy, signifying the state’s ambition to permeate every facet of existence.
• Modern Western societies, he claims, are “totalitarian democracies.”

"Totalitarianism is that the state consumes literally every single aspect of someone's life." (22:01)

Memorable Moment:

"The great irony is that my argument that authoritarianism is in fact more free than total egalitarian democracy is something that most of human history would agree with." (34:28)

3. Historic Examples and Typologies of Totalitarianism

• Totalitarianism is historically rare, typically emerging in times of social atomization and institutional breakdown.
• Lynch identifies two archetypes:
  • Barbaric Totalitarianism: Early, less complex societies (e.g., Inca, Qin China, Old Kingdom Egypt).
  • Modern (Feminine) Totalitarianism: Advanced societies experiencing trauma and rapid change (e.g., Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, Modern West).
• Protective social institutions (church, guilds, local elites) were historic bulwarks against totalitarian encroachment.
  • Tocqueville and Fukuyama are cited regarding the value of intermediary institutions.

4. Psychological Allure of Totalitarianism

• Lynch says the desire for totalitarianism is rooted in seeking relief from freedom and responsibility, especially during tumultuous periods.
• He controversially frames modern totalitarianism as “feminine,” appealing to psychological submission and security over autonomy.

“Totalitarianism is innately feminine at its core, in that women...crave submission in the most powerful force possible…What man can be more powerful than the all consuming totalitarian state?” (1:17:22)

• Scapegoating and utopian fantasies are central; totalitarian systems promise the impossible (e.g., utopia) but only deliver suffering.
• Both fascism and communism, regardless of left-right distinction, share this dynamic.

“Totalitarianism is predicated upon scapegoating in which every totalitarian regime has to find an out group to project their insecurities and failures onto so that the ruling class won’t be held accountable for its own failures.” (1:26:51)

5. The Modern West & "Woke Totalitarianism"

• Lynch claims current Western societies, despite being democracies with free markets, are as totalitarian as any in history, notably through the ideology he labels as “Wokeness.”
  • Wokeness, he asserts, seeks not just political but cultural, social, artistic, and psychological control.
  • The entire spectrum of mainstream opinion and politics is, in his view, subsumed under this managerial “uniparty.”
  • He highlights the social pressure for ideological conformity, cultural erasure, and educational indoctrination.
• He notes the paradox that democracy, intended as a check on tyranny, has enabled an indirect, managerial-style of total dominance.

"Wokeness is emotional communism, in which the system regulates those who feel any Pride or joy. It's not here to actually regulate a real social structure. It's here to keep straight white men from having any pride or self respect." (36:28)

“Wokeness has seized control of our art, culture, literature, philosophy, religion, economy and anything else.” (1:37:15)

6. Consequences and Historical Perspective

• All totalitarian regimes, he notes, are short-lived and destructive, cannibalizing the social capital that made society flourish.
• He closes on a somber note, likening current Western culture to a “suicidal death cult” that is running out of steam, but which may not collapse fast enough to avoid catastrophe.
• He implores listeners to recognize the patterns and dangers in history, hoping for a lesson finally learned.

“We will be forced to keep reliving this trauma until we can learn the great lesson of the 20th century that totalitarianism is not acceptable. Our ancestors and descendants see this much more clearly than we do.” (1:43:50)

Notable Quotes

• On the present age:

  “The totalitarianism of our society is so overarching that it is in fact the dominant variable of our society.” (03:44)

• On authoritarianism in daily life:

  “In a lot of military dictatorships or monarchies, people have more functional freedom in their daily lives than modern western democracies.” (26:41)

• On the nature of Wokeness:

  "Wokeness is about as totalitarian as you can get. It's worse in that there is no clear target to attack, in that Wokeness is a hive mind incapable of forming any leaders…" (1:40:13)

• On the cyclical nature of history:

  "The lesson here is that since Wokeness establishes a set self interest which allows continuous state overreach in the name of progress, regimes run by the managerial class convert to Wokeness as a way to control their population." (1:41:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• The 20th Century’s Distinctiveness: 00:00–04:11
• Defining Authoritarian vs. Totalitarian: 22:01–34:28
• Historical Examples of Totalitarianism: 52:45–1:13:00
• Psychological Allure/Scapegoating: 1:17:22–1:27:05
• Modern "Woke" Totalitarianism: 1:37:15–1:43:50
• Closing Reflection on Civilization’s Fate: 1:43:51–end

Conclusion

This episode offers a sweeping and provocative analysis of political power, freedom, and the evolution of control in human societies. By scrutinizing both ancient empires and our current democratic systems through the lens of totalitarianism, Lynch challenges listeners to reevaluate the freedoms and coercions shaping modern life. The episode asserts that recognizing these patterns—and breaking the recurring cycle of totalitarian movements—is essential if civilization is to thrive rather than collapse.

For more in-depth content on world history, philosophy, and culture, visit WhatifAlthist and stay tuned for new episodes.