Millerman Talks #17: Alexander Dugin, Steve Bannon, and The New Middle Ages

The Washington Post ran an article on April 16th called “Why far-right nationalists like Steve Bannon have embraced a Russian ideologue” arguing that Alexander Dugin and Steve Bannon use a mythologized version of the Middle Ages to stoke white nationalism, whip up Islamophobia, and promote other hateful far-right goals. In this episode, I examine and criticize some of the claims about Dugin, not primarily in order to exonerate him, but to set a higher standard for the analysis of obscure, yet politically relevant matters, so that our journalists, intelligence agencies, academics, and other circles don’t become accustomed to taking cheap ideological distortions as the final word on these things.

[@alfabravo80]

Almost everything that presents itself as a limit to the Western empire is fascist for the West. Thank you for your excellent and concise work. It's terribly needed.

[@00oa4]

Even as a somewhat patriotic American I can’t imagine ever trusting the opinion of somebody who worked in the CIA

[@bethanylee415]

Just about every thing you know, especially history, through (education system as a whole) etc. Is from CIA and are lies, and propaganda.

[@zenden6564]

You can indeed trust them, but it is to be consistent to their own nefarious means and ends...

[@larrycera1943]

The irony of calling a fourth political theory fascist is only present to those lacking the requisite ignorance that allows one to ignore what the first three theories are in the critique by a fourth

[@rodrigomendez8026]

Mr. Millermann, thank you. You are great.

[@a4a72698]

Sad that half of this video needs to be spent on defending Dugin not being a fascist. I realize it's in response to a WAPO article. The nasty rhetoric of liberals that put any other position on its heels is sad. It's like we are living with a sociopathic narcissist that we need to navigate around on a daily basis.

[@Mr.X__777]

Michael, I really enjoy your content! Authentic, confident and intelligent! Cheers

[@PJHamann1]

Nice work Michael. The conceptual distinctions matter at this moment more than ever, as forces seem bent on forcing us to pick a new direction whether we want to or not.

[@kamilziemian995]

Thank you dr Millerman. You are rare gem.

[@Treblig1969]

What i think you are misunderstanding is that when you think that Dugin is explaining his philosophy, what he is actually doing is enacting it. He is not telling you what he believes, he is telling you what he wants you to believe.

[@borisshmagin8925]

Brilliant presentation, connected to the core of philosophy, what is an original idea. Brilliant in the used language, articulation of the expressed contend and the structural balance for the number and size of parts (topics) and the entire peace. Presenter looks focused and sharp that also supports the video

[@jdzentrist8711]

There is a rationality here, an objectivity, devoid of anger, that I envy. My own conclusions are the same, but I get angry (in control, of course) and at the same time anxious to "be right," vis-a-vis my new "enemy," who epitomizes ignorance. I take pride in seeking Truth, and find myself impatient with anything except this noble and just quest. Giving in to anxiety and fear, I become harsh, an abrasive, unkind critic. It's symptomatic of feelings of inferiority. The good news is that I'm aware of all this. It motivates me to intensify my efforts, to stay up a little later, in order hear another fighter, but one much better at it.

[@Mdeil20]

I've been meaning to look into Berdyaev's thought for some time. To some extent he influenced Mortimer Adler, the extremely well known educator. I think he also influenced a handful of Catholic educators too.

[@thecookiechannel7083]

Not sure I buy Dugin’s philosophy, but I agree we need people in influential positions to be a LOT more careful with facts and reposts. People are treating politics, philosophy, and culture, like they are NFL football fans.

[@k.s.9400]

Just discovered your channel. Super insightful, much appreciated!

[@marchess286]

There are many books of Nicolas Berdyaev in print, but no book I can find with a title like "New Middle Ages" available from bookstores. There is a book by Lampert which supposedly explains Nicolas Berdyaev on the "new middle ages". Was the actual "New Middle Ages a chapter or part of another Berdyaev book? Thank you.

[@millerman]

It's a notion from The End of Our Time

[@kennethmorrison7689]

You & I are both Canadian & I think that another profound theorist Marshall McLuhan could enrich our discussions. His deep concern with the verge of orality/literacy could be of substantive interest to many of us. I also believe that the ideas of David Greiber regarding another verge -- that of pre- literate societies & post agracultural societies could yield useful insights.

[@torbenzenth5615]

very interesting, thank you. would enjoy more about the New Middle Ages

[@rossdouthard6216]

Outstanding analysis.

[@Magnulus76]

Fundamentalism in the context of Eastern Christianity has to do with a certain approach to the religious tradition, not with literal treatment of sacred texts. The Bible is not the sole norm in Orthodoxy. Fundamentalism in the Orthodox context is better conceived as a certain reactionary stance towards modernity and polemical anti-westernism. This can be seen in Dugin's affiliation with the Old Believers, perhaps, as many people who are Fundamentalists in Orthodoxy are inclined towards such groups.

[@NA-di3yy]

Довольно забавны эти - пусть косвенные - обвинения Бердяева в "правых грехах", учитывая, что он, хотя и религиозный консерватор, но безусловно левый -- откуда и его полемика с Ильиным, например, и нынешние разборки вокруг того, кто же ближе Путину - правый Ильин или левый Бердяев (так как сам Путин охотно цитирует обоих))

[@williambentley2802]

Thanks Michael, listening to your concise explanations has helped clarify some of Dugins ideas for me.

[@millerman]

You will like the new playlist I'm adding here soon. It is around 90 minutes from one of my courses on Dugin. Thank you for your comment and time!

[@PJHamann1]

These people are doing more harm than good with their low-quality information. When coupled with a well-cultivated (and let's face it: well-earned) distrust of the current -Western- regime, errors like these, whether made in good faith or not, only serve to drive fence sitters to the "underdog" side.

[@JAMESKOURTIDES]

If you could recommend 1 of Dugins books for entry into his thought in general, what would that be (or someone fairly competent in Heidegger and Orthodox Theology)?

[@millerman]

There are various starting points. For a general introduction to his thought from which you can later branch out, I recommend The Fourth Political Theory. For his Heideggerianism specifically, probably his book Martin Heidegger: The Philosophy of Another Beginning is a good starting point. For brief indications about the nature of his interest in Plato, you could try Political Platonism. But I don't think you can do better at first than The Fourth Political Theory. I will add that there is more to the text than meets the eye. I have a course on the book that is designed to help with a walkthrough that brings key concepts and distinctions to light clearly. It's available at DuginCourse.com. The free trial at my school MillermanSchool.com includes the first two lectures from that course and also the first lecture from my course in his book series called Noomakhia. You might want to check those out. Cheers!

[@JAMESKOURTIDES]

Thank you! Where's the best place to purchase?

[@millerman]

@@JAMESKOURTIDES I think you can buy his books through the publisher Arktos, Barnes and Noble, or second hand (Amazon banned them).

[@tommyandersson5878]

Very good Michael :-) By the way! It makes of cause sense that Bannon was mentioned in the header when he figured in WPs article - but before I saw the video I was a kind of surprised to see Dugin and Bannon mentioned in one line as I think Dugin is a great philosopher and Bannon is more a ultra-liberalistic fanboy of GS, Lockheed Martin, Monsanto, Exxon Mobil etc. etc.

[@walrustrent2001]

I don't know where you got the notion that Bannon is an ultra-liberalistic anything. He is a spearhead figure of populism, and while I didn't know that he got inspiration from Dugin that seems entirely plausible.

[@Ykpaina988]

How did Evola's thought influence Heidegger? I believe he scribbled a passage of "Revolt Against The Modern World" in his blackbooks. Yet how did this anti-modern, traditionalist thinker influence Heidegger's authenticity project that then somehow birthed postmodern philosophers i.e the children of Heidegger "Derrida, Foucault, Marcuse", and finally how does Dugin a traditionalist rooted in Orthodoxy incorporate Heidegger, Evola(who transcends Heidegger and Sartre in "Ride the Tiger). I guess I am asking how Heidegger's concept of Dasein or being there or human being there is used in Dugin's political theory the fourth way in our hyper digital technological world (and does this have any correlation to Gurdjief's Fourth way). Thank you

[@CScott-wh5yk]

What was the Berdyaev book referenced? Insightful video.

[@millerman]

In English it is called The End of Our Time. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@CScott-wh5yk]

Thanks!

[@genestone4951]

Loved this talk. THANK YOU

[@burtonsankeralli5445]

This is excellent. You may define me as a left Heideggerian.

[@andrejmucic5003]

Your shit matters bro!

[@burtonsankeralli5445]

You do know rhat Heidegger is also to be found at the root of the Iranian revolution.

[@OGdelRancho]

What's the name of Berdyaev's book?

[@millerman]

The end of our time

[@ferguscullen8451]

Excellent and helpful as always. Thanks.

[@bhuvanc4992]

This is the same reason why many academics and jounos in the west call BJP and RSS fascist, when they are absolutely not, and there is a 100 year history of RSS to show that.

[@burtonsankeralli5445]

Modernity has also come under critique from an Aristotelian grounding and his gained traction among some Catholics. Have you read Alasdair MacIntyre?

[@austinmackell9286]

"Fascism-Borderless and Red" By Aleksandr Dugin (1997) So your cut off date of '94 is wrong. He was explicitly and openly a fascist for three years after that.

[@Tsayoga]

People use Authoritarian and Fascist far to often. Dugin very much supports Authoritarianism he just has his own preferred type.

[@kytom89]

Great talk

[@larrycera1943]

Dugins perenniallism is apparent by his favoring of the Old Believers

[@fyodordostoevsky4290]

"My Dughin is not a Fascist. He may be a liar, a pig, an idiot, a Fascist, but he is NOT a porn star!" Mr Millermann

[@alexandermathews9710]

Whatever. The F word is distasteful. Of course he wouldn't call himself that. They always bring new words in. I'm not a liar, I tell alternative truths

[@ramziabbyad8816]

Haha just a thinly veiled attack on Russia

[@tomstaples144]

Interesting claims!! Attach the other side for what you are doing is were most truth will be found!!!!!!

[@coperfield9188]

Love u daddy

[@mididoctors]

The one thing Dugin ain't is his arguments are coherent

[@Jordan-mn2ty]

He’s very coherent and clear, the thinking typical of Heidegger, Spengler, Evola …etc are foreign to many western thinkers. Dugin also applies psychoanalysis to deconstruct western thinking, in a way that’s extremely similar to jungs critiques in Aion.

[@samn8309]

@@Jordan-mn2ty Having more of a background in Jung I could see his influence on Dugin. I've never heard him mention Jung directly though.

[@samn8309]

'The one thing Dugin ain't is coherent' would be a more 'coherent' sentence.

[@ziorotan8145]

First and foremost.learn Bout mekinder thesis and us 100 year old foreign polocy

[@kcconnor5085]

re facism if it walks like duck...............

[@berserker4940]

HEIL DUGIN!

[@yp77738yp77739]

Don’t be fooled and commit philosophical suicide. You must confront the absurdity of life head on, to rely on others to do it for you is to give in.