The new left

With the ‘end of history’, has the new left waned or gained? While most countries in the world are now embracing (neo) liberal variants of political and economic organisation, leftist ideologies seem to have fallen to the fringes. It’s new patrons: the powerless, discriminated and disillusioned people who have not profited from the onslaught of global capitalism and market-determinism:

“Indigenes, welfare dependents, homosexuals, refugees (especially if they are illegal immigrants) and displaced populations of dysfunctional states primarily in Africa and South America.”

What unites these people is not their sense of sister-/brotherhood, but their shared sense of vicitimhood:

“Failure, in addition to class, has become a desired prerequisite for joining the Left's brotherhood of victims. Through its support of those it deems less fortunate, the Left assumes a moral high ground from which it feels self-righteously justified in attacking those it designates as oppressors.”

More specifically, in the current Middle East conflict, this commentator argues that the left is taking a very skewed stance, demonising Israel as the aggressor, while almost lauding and overly sympathising with the cause of the ‘terrorists’ who started the conflict. A very big change from the sympathies towards Jews in the aftermaths of the Holocaust.

“Paradoxically, the [Israeli] state's success has been the reason the Left turned against Israel. Within a few years of its foundation, Israel had broken the first commandment of the Left's ideology: "Thou shalt not succeed." Success is anathema to the Left because it puts an end to victimhood; without victims the Left has no reason to exist. In the eyes of the Left's supporters, Israel's great accomplishments meant that the country no longer qualified as a victim. Israel, through being successful, effectively turned its back on the role chosen for it by the Left.”

A very condemning conclusion of the role of the Left, as myopic and conveniently forgetful:

“If there is a lesson to be learned from this, it is that where morality is concerned, the Left is value free. It draws no distinction between good and evil, right and wrong, justice and injustice. Hence, in the minds of leftists, the terrorist becomes a freedom fighter and murderers are transformed into heroes.

• Another article on the role of the left, arguing that its sympathies for Lebanon should not come from its anti-Americanism. A detailed historical recount of the state of the country and players involved.