“Critical theory” and “political correctness:”– their origin, purpose and application

Too few people appreciate the fact that references to “critical theory” and “political correctness” are Marxist in origin and are central to the process of transforming Western Judeo-Christian society into hemispheres of Orwellian socialism.

How to bring about a Marxist world order has exercised the minds of those ideological adherents for over a hundred years. Marx claimed it would occur when the working classes rose up and overthrew their capitalist oppressors. But although some worker rebellions occurred they were short-lived failures. Seizing power as Lenin did in Russia succeeded only because of unique circumstances –German aid, an unpopular war and a weak Tsar.  Outright imposition of communism required a war situation as was the case when Stalin overran Eastern Europe and Mao conquered China.  Establishing communism in strongly settled, capitalist societies such as the USA required a totally different strategy.

In the early 20th century, Italian Marxist, Antonio Gramsci saw the promotion of social change as a subtle way to generate momentum towards the establishment of a socialist state.  He understood that cultural hegemony was the basis of the power exercised by the ruling class. By exploiting political struggles so as to promote division and polarisation, he theorised that cultural hegemony could be systematically weakened thereby facilitating the progressive insinuation of socialism.

A more cunning and effective way of challenging existing social order, with a view to subverting it, was the work of the Frankfurt School of Marxists led by Max Horkheimer along with, inter alia, Brecht, Marcuse and Adorno. Fleeing Hitler’s threat to Europe in the 1930s, they settled in the US and set about exploiting the freedom of self-expression which the First Amendment provides.

The deep-rootedness of American values and traditions presented the ideal place to foment disarray by introducing what they called “Critical theory.” It involved questioning and criticising anything and everything, everywhere.  Sowing doubt and polarisation, undermining values, norms and traditions, deconstructing, demonising, destroying.

Columbia University was their first target of the academic world. Promoting social schism by propounding new fields of enquiry such as Gender Studies and African-American studies; deviating in every way from Judeo-Christian norms; linking everything and anything to the ills of the capitalist system, even popular art; exploiting the liberal arts – Sociology, Psychology, History, Literature – to deconstruct established views and promote revolutionary ones premised on atheism and nihilism. In sum: to shred the social fabric of the status quo. [That is exactly what Mao Tse Tung promoted violently in the Cultural Revolution 1966-1970 with his destruction of the ‘Four Olds’ – culture, customs, habits and ideas].

By stealth and insidiousness, the propagation of “critical theory” promoted division and confrontation where previously there had been conformity, solidarity and acceptance. It highlighted inequality and race. By subjecting heritage to negativity in the name of critical revision, it undermined national pride and spirit and fostered a new social category – “victimhood.”

Herbert Marcuse’s contribution to the application of “critical theory” was to inject it into the psyche of everyday life. In an essay written in 1965 he accused US society of “repressive tolerance” which stifled dissenting views. He argued that what was needed was “partisan tolerance.” From that premise has come to the pervasive and universally prescriptive and prevalent dictum POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.

In so doing, Marcuse achieved a great Marxist goal because it is Marxist thinking that determines what political correctness is. Thus, Marxism has been insinuated into American consciousness and is alive and thriving on university campuses where views that are politically incorrect – like conservatism – are not tolerated. That is not illiberalism. It is totalitarianism.

Following in Marcuse’s footsteps was the pragmatic Marxist, Saul Alinsky. His textbook Rules for Radicals published in 1971 rolled up all the abstruse jargon of his predecessors into a practical guide on how to bring about a Marxist utopia (read: dystopia).

There are 8 levels of control necessary to achieve a socialist state. They are premised on the standpoint that the ends justify the means.

  1. Healthcare — Control healthcare and you control the people.
  2. Poverty — Increase the poverty level as high as possible. Poor, uneducated people are easier to control and will not fight back if you are providing the welfare for their existence.
  3. Debt — Encourage debt to an unsustainable level. In that way taxes can be increased along with poverty and dependence on state welfare.
  4. Gun Control — Remove the ability of the law-abiding to defend themselves. Self-defence is not a reason to own a gun, they claim.
  5. Welfare — Allied with increased dependence is increased control of every aspect of society (Food, Housing, and Income).
  6. Education — Take control of what people read, view and listen to. Saturate the school curriculum with critical theory. Indoctrination through education.
  7. Religion — Remove the belief in God from the Government and schools.
  8. Class and race warfare — Divide people into wealthy and poor- haves and have-nots. This will cause more discontent and it will be easier to tax the wealthy with the support of the poor.

Thanks to the subversion of academia by the Frankfurt School, Western society, especially America, is well-saturated with Marxist dogma. It is openly espoused by Hollywood and the mainstream media. It is entrenched in schools and tertiary education.

———————————-December 2020

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