Great utopias, false prophets

Notable features of our time are the collapse of utopian doctrines and beliefs about universal peace, prosperity and friendship between people; instead of hopes and expectations, the growth of nationalism and xenophobia, extremist movements, the separation of interests and ideas about rights and justice.

Shining ideas, grim reality

Ideas of global peace and unity have until recently dominated public consciousness and international politics, based on the enormous achievements of mankind in education, science and technology, and socio-economic development.

These ideas are not new, they are presented in religious teachings, folklore, works of great humanist thinkers. “Wolves will live in peace with sheep, tigers with goats, calves with lions.” Isaiah 11:6. The figurative metaphor refers to people, social relationships.

There were skeptics, too. Ivan Krylov retold the ancient Greek Aesop in his fable “The Wolf and the Lamb”: “The strong always have the powerless to blame…. It’s your fault that I’m hungry.”

But since the formation of civilizations, optimistic forecasts have dominated. The social utopias of Plato’s “Republic”, Moore’s “Utopia”, Campanella’s “City of the Sun”, H.G. Wells’ “Modern Utopia”, “Men as Gods” still find readers and admirers.

Utopian ideas were presented in Russian literature: Chernyshevsky’s “What to Do”, Tsiolkovsky’s “Dreams of Earth and Sky”, Strugatsky’s novels. Religious ideas about Russia’s special path and role had a great influence on the national consciousness: “Moscow is the Third Rome, and there will never be a fourth”. These views are not alien to the Russian national consciousness even today; their most prominent representative is the philosopher Alexander Dugin.

The greatest utopia of the new time “Communist Manifesto” by Marx, the slogan “Proletarians of all countries, unite” became a guide to action for the “Communist International” and socialist revolutionaries around the world.

The USSR proclaimed “developed socialism” and achieved its “complete and final victory”, Khrushchev’s “Program for the Construction of Communism” was adopted, but the ideology and practice were ruined not so much by external enemies as by internal contradictions, inefficient economy and management.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Gorbachev’s utopias of “socialism with a human face” and Yeltsin’s sovereignty without borders turned into catostraphic chaos, plunder of national wealth unprecedented in history, territorial and civil wars and ethnic conflicts, and instead of the benefits of a new international policy, a new cold war with the threat of a thermonuclear war.

China is dominated by the Communist Party, portraits of Marx, Engels, Lenin, Mao are everywhere, huge progress has been made in economic and scientific-technological development, but the country lives in conditions of rigid capitalism, incompatible with the ideas of the founders of the communist doctrine.

America is a pragmatic country from its founding to the present day, with the most popular and influential philosopher Ayn Rand and her cult of capitalism, individualism and creative elites, but there was and is room for utopias. Many pioneers dreamed of creating social relations in the new land based on communal community, equality, mutual aid, small settlements, physical labor, agroculture, pacifism, sensible consumption, self-sufficiency, non-interference in the affairs of others.

John Winthrop expressed the Puritan hope in the famous maxim so dear to the American heart, “We should be a shining hail on a hill – the eyes of all nations are upon us.” This idea inspired John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and is still relevant today: the eyes of all nations look upon America, though with different thoughts and feelings.

The fate of the American Indian, slavery, racial inequality, the single-handed accumulation of wealth undreamed of by Caesars and Ludovicks, colonial control, and attempts at regime change have not shaken the conviction of America’s role as a guide for the world. This conviction reached a peak after America’s victory in the Cold War.

But the euphoria did not last long. Internal division, political infighting, unsuccessful foreign wars, and the forceful promotion of liberal democracy seriously weakened America’s international standing and Americans’ perception of their place in the world. No hostile action can so traumatize the national consciousness and shake world perceptions of present-day America as the state of the country’s leadership. The presidential debates are a dramatic illustration of this. International opinion polls show that America does not top the list of the best countries in the world, ahead of Switzerland, Canada, Sweden, countries with no claim to world dominance. And shocking data: according to the Global Peace Index, the U.S. ranks 132nd out of 163 on the list of peace-loving countries.

There has been a radical change in the way the country’s history is viewed. Education, mainstream media and progressive politicians have cultivated a sense of America’s guilt and responsibility for all domestic and world problems. The America of Theodore Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan has retreated under the America of Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

For perhaps the first time in history, a country is abandoning its values, culture, national characteristics and way of being in the name of the utopias of multiculturalism and the ideology of “awakening” and “progressivism.” Barack Obama: “People from every corner of the Earth – different from each other, with different names, praying differently, speaking different languages, having different cultural traditions – and somehow they come together … That’s our faith.” (Biden’s campaign fundraising speech.) In the current climate, these views are no longer seen as utopianism, but as absurdity and demagoguery. But they define the essence of Western ideology and policy.

Samuel Huntington, a major American historian, warned 30 years ago about the clash of civilizations. It seemed to be something like the “War on Terror,” with Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Igil, and there was no doubt that the West would win this war.  It turned out that the threat of destruction of Western Civilization came in another form – self-destruction in the name of unfulfilled fantasies and false ideologies.

The sad fate of Western civilization has become the subject of many political science, historical and philosophical works. The theme is even more widely represented in literary dystopias. Their essence, in the words of the writer Dina Rubina: “History will wipe its feet on Western civilization”.

In the ruins of utopias and fantasies, just like the prophecies of Marxism, were also the forecasts of Western leaders and political scientists about the world victory of democratization and globalization, providing the end of the history of wars and universal prosperity.

Under socialist totalitarianism, the cult of unfulfilled ideas was conditioned by political censorship, suppression of dissent and opposition. Western experts knew no such restrictions, but their judgments and conclusions were as far from reality as those of Soviet ideologists. For socialist ideology, the hour of truth came with the collapse of the Soviet empire. Liberal ideology prevails, but it too has not long to wait for its hour.

Princeton University historian Harold James introduced the concept of “post-Soviet America.” Cambridge and Harvard University historian Niall Ferguson developed this idea in “Are We All Soviet Now? Look Around.”

Going into a foreign monastery with your own charter

There have been periods of mass migration of peoples in history, but the current process of international migration, changing demography and the cultural image of Western civilization has no precedent in its scale. Historically, territorial boundaries and state foundations have been protected as the highest national treasure. But the West voluntarily gave up the right to preserve its values and identity in the name of visions of a global village and universal solidarity and integration.

Illegal immigration has created intractable economic, social and legislative challenges for democracies and created internal divisions over attitudes toward open borders and the invasion of millions of people of different worldviews and behaviors. According to the UN, there are more than 300 million international migrants in the world today, half of them women and children. The vast majority of them do not see their situation as temporary, and intend to become permanent residents in a new country. This is especially true in America and Europe.

Contrary to the biblical requirement to love neighbors and aliens, to the folklore notions of “we will get along, we will get along”, “to know is to understand”, real life shows that it is easier to love strangers from afar and that good fences help good neighborliness and peacefulness. Pluralism implies diversity of interests, worldviews, cultures and traditions, and in this conglomerate it is difficult to find balance and harmony, to come to common ideas about rights and justice. All this is quite evident from big politics to domestic relations.

The strengthening of right-wing movements and political extremism is a response to radical transformations of the Western community, its structure, values and traditions. In the big cities of Europe and America, racial minorities, instead of adapting, are increasingly dictating their conditions through protest demonstrations, demographic changes and the system of democratic elections.

One of the most famous biblical stories is the building of the Tower of Babel. Originally, all people spoke the same language and thought that by uniting they would be able to build a tower to the heavens. The utopian project failed, the builders were punished by the Almighty with mutual misunderstanding, disunity and chaos.

America is unique in many ways, and one of the features of its history is the continuous immigration process. There was a time when the dominant view was of a “melting pot” according to which the children of different peoples in freedom and democracy would merge into a single nation, of “color blindness” when racial differences were overlooked. Social adaptation to the values and norms of the new country, compliance with its laws, and personal responsibility for achieving well-being and integration into society seemed obligatory. The majority of immigrants willingly and successfully coped with this task, perceiving with respect and gratitude the way of being of the country.

Liberal ideology and politics have changed attitudes towards immigration and use it for political purposes. Immigration has grown into a chaotic, uncontrolled process, creating many social conflicts, requiring significant costs, critically aggravated social relations. Under the new conditions, the aspiration for adaptation and integration has sharply decreased, ethnic norms and values have been prioritized over the country’s traditions.

Immigration significantly changed the social image of the country and the atmosphere in society. The charms of a foreign culture and way of life are good on a tourist trip, but in everyday life they are a source of frustration and conflicts. But most importantly, mass migration is consciously used by the left wing of the Democratic Party to strengthen its base and electoral opportunities. If you don’t like the election results, let’s change the electorate.

America is number one in the world in terms of the share of migrants in the population. Today, there are about 100 million foreign born and their children born in the US. And that’s not counting the uncounted migrants of the new unprecedented wave created by Obama and Biden’s policies. Fertility among applicants for U.S. citizenship is two to three times higher than among Americans, and the new demographics will inevitably become the most important factor determining all aspects of public life. “Replacement theory” is perceived as reactionary and racist, but even without any theories, the shape of the country is increasingly determined by demographic statistics.

In a democracy dominated by liberal ideology, immigrant groups, even if they are a minority, can have a critical impact on the public atmosphere and politics. The growth in numbers and influence of progressives in domestic and foreign policy is illustrative, and they have successfully managed to supplant the old guard of the Democratic Party that spawned them. A clear example is the activity of Palestinians in universities and street protests, where they manage to dictate their terms, although they are ten times less numerous than Jews, and about 70% of Americans support Israel.

In Europe, serious opposition to the continent’s rebirth has emerged, but in America, left-liberal forces are on the rise. Even if Trump wins the election, they have ample opportunity to paralyze his policies. Trump promises to “drain the swamp,” meaning the establishment, but in the new term he will have to deal with a roaring stream of resistance from new passional and aggressive political forces.

Eternal wanderers

No people in the world have experienced as many migratory changes as the Jews. The experience of Jewish life in the Diaspora includes tragedies, catastrophes unprecedented in history, and the greatest achievements and recognition in the countries of dispersion and in the world.

The Torah foretells of exile from Israel and persecution in a foreign land as punishment for apostasy and sin, and warns that in every generation the Jews will have enemies, but that God will come to the rescue in times of hardship and will return the Jews to the land given to them at an hour known only to Him.

In the New Testament there is a legend about the immortal wandering Jew Agasfer, doomed to eternal exile until the Second Coming or the end of the world. The legend has been widely reflected in literature and art, and Christ’s dialog with Agasphere has been the subject of many theological and philosophical debates.

Since the time of Abraham, the Jews have lived in constant motion. The memory of the exodus from Egyptian slavery, the years of walking in the desert, the building and destruction of the Temple, and the exile are central to Jewish identity and consciousness.

After the Assyrian conquest of Israel, Jews were dispersed throughout the Middle East, mostly in Babylon and Egypt. The Persians, Greeks and Romans did not interfere much with the religious life of the Jews as long as they observed the laws of the empire and paid heavy taxes, but Jewish rebellions and disobedience were brutally suppressed.

In the first century, about 5 million Jews lived outside Palestine, three quarters of them in the Roman Empire. Subsequently, Persia, Turkey, Spain, France, Germany, England, Poland, Russia became centers of the Jewish diaspora. Jews also reached as far as India, China, and America.

Periods of relative peace and tolerance were followed by savage anti-Semitism and exile. Sooner or later, a similar pattern was repeated: Jews were prohibited from many activities and land ownership, but encouraged to engage in trade and finance. Money circulation was considered sinful by Christianity, but someone had to fulfill these duties, and since Jews who did not accept Christ were destined for hell, this sphere was often the only way for them to survive. Indebted aristocrats and the poor often used the opportunity of pogroms and exile to avoid paying their debts. As a rule, Jews were held responsible for all troubles and problems, from epidemics and natural disasters to wars and revolutions.

There were prosperous periods during the Renaissance and Enlightenment, the bourgeois and socialist revolutions, and in pre-war Europe, but the utopian hopes of becoming equals among equals were invariably belied by another wave of anti-Semitism.

Compared to conditions in other countries, life in the Jewish Diaspora in America was the most prosperous. Although there were periods of discrimination in employment, education, choice of place of residence, and social intercourse, and anti-Semitic views were expressed by politicians, religious figures, and media personalities, the process of emancipation clearly prevailed.

Jews successfully integrated into the American way of life and took their rightful place in society. When restrictions on emigration from the Soviet Union were lifted, many Jews chose America over Israel. And for Israelis living outside the country, America and the American bride are most attractive.

But in recent decades, the situation has changed radically. The main reason has been the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mass immigration from countries where anti-Semitism is dominant. The victorious liberal ideology has put the struggle against the legacy of colonialism, racial privilege, and the rights of the oppressed at the center of political activism, and the Palestinians and their supporters have been able to capitalize on this sentiment among young people and ethnic minorities.

Today, attacks, assaults, insults and harassment at school and work have become everyday events in Jewish life. Synagogue doors are closed, there are constant police guards and detectors at events. Many Jews are afraid to show their Jewish identity and express their views.

There was just an attack by a mob of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on a synagogue in Beverly Hills in Los Angeles. I asked Rabbi Joseph Kunin, “Did you really have this, since you’re in an affluent neighborhood?” – “Unbelievable, but it’s in our community.” We have known each other since our Moscow days, when, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he, as a yeshiva student, helped organize Jewish life in Russia and fought for the return of Rebe Schneerson’s books to America. Joseph helped Jewish immigrants from the post-Soviet states in many ways. They didn’t expect to get it here either.

American Jews had strong positions in politics, business, finance, media, education, law, science; it is commonly believed that this is a nation of intellectuals, creative, energetic people. But it turned out that Jews failed to see and understand the impending threat and often helped their haters, hoping to be recognized for their good deeds. Even Judaism was perverted by the Reformers in favor of their true religion, liberalism.

Initially fringe movements such as “progressives”, “woke”, “Black Lives Matter”, “Critical Racial Theory” and the like, pro-Palestinian groups in universities, became influential political forces and gained widespread support with anti-Zionist and anti-Israeli slogans. Today, one can no longer be embarrassed or make excuses, everyone understands the true meaning – anti-Semitism.  The driving force and conditions of their success is that, like the Nazis, they are based on a prejudice and hatred of Jews that has never disappeared.

Most people are able to distinguish between civilization and barbarism, between terrorism and the struggle for rights and justice, and would not want to live under a regime like Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, but anti-Semitism proves stronger than common sense and even self-preservation.

If the Holocaust and October 7 did not open our eyes, what is there to hope for?

Thousands of volumes have been written about Jews’ millennia-long search for a safe and equal life in the Diaspora. In addition to historians, the subject has always attracted writers, not only Jews. Recently, the Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to Olga Tokarczuk, a Polish writer. In the estimation of the Nobel Committee, she is credited with “Narratives … that describe with encyclopedic passion the overcoming of borders as a form of life.”

Her novel The Books of Yaakov recounts the true events of the 18th century, when thousands of Jews, unable to withstand anti-Semitism, entrusted their fate to the false Moshiach Yaakov Leibovich Frank. The full title of the thousand-page book with reverse numbering of pages is “A great journey across seven frontiers, five languages and three great religions, not counting the small ones, told by the dead, by the author supplemented by the method of conjecture, from a multitude of books drawn, supported by the imagination, which is the greatest gift of nature”.

The characters of the novel live among Poles, Ukrainians, Turks, Greeks, Bulgarians, Hungarians, on trade business go on risky journeys to distant countries, know a dozen languages, local customs and try to adapt to them, to please the rulers, officials, churchmen and commoners, but it does not help much. Salvation is expected from Moshiach, whom a cunning and devious adventurer has declared himself to be,

“We did terrible things as slave owners and murderers of Jews,” Tokarczuk explained her choice of the book’s subject. Tokarczuk is Polish and Ukrainian by ancestry, and this historical recognition in modern Poland is costly.

Although Tokarczuk’s novels are undeniably great humanist literature and brilliantly written, they have caused an explosion of hatred in Poland, from the authorities to anti-Semitic philistines. Her position is further complicated by the fact that she constantly speaks of the influence of Russian literature on her work. In its historical scope and philosophical depth, The Books of Jacob is often compared to Tolstoy’s War and Peace.

The book is a literary and social-psychological masterpiece, a prophecy about false prophets and promises, and it is super relevant not only for Jews who believed in new utopias. The future of the entire Judeo-Christian civilization is in great doubt. One can become alien and disenfranchised even without going anywhere, in one’s own land.