Alain de Benoist dives into the heart of the ongoing crisis of liberalism, the question of European identity, and the socio-political shifts unfolding in contemporary society.
This text is a translation. The original was published here.
Interview with Alain de Benoist given to the site Critique de la raison européenne (Critique of European Reason), about his book Contre le libéralisme (Against Liberalism)
The term ‘liberal’ appears totally overused in the current public debate. Could you define what the liberal project is?
Alain de Benoist: Like all words that have been used a lot (democracy, progress, etc.), it is difficult to give a definition of liberalism that would gain consensus. The difficulty is increased by the fact that, unlike Marxism, liberalism has had many ‘founding fathers’, and also that the link between economic liberalism, political liberalism, philosophical liberalism and ‘societal’ liberalism is not obvious to everyone. The liberal project, to use your phrase, is in my view a project that favours the individual over anything that exceeds him, relying on an anthropology that considers man as a being essentially driven by the desire to maximise his personal interest and private profit.
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Interview with Alain de Benoist given to the site Critique de la raison européenne (Critique of European Reason), about his book Contre le libéralisme (Against Liberalism)
The term ‘liberal’ appears totally overused in the current public debate. Could you define what the liberal project is?
Alain de Benoist: Like all words that have been used a lot (democracy, progress, etc.), it is difficult to give a definition of liberalism that would gain consensus. The difficulty is increased by the fact that, unlike Marxism, liberalism has had many ‘founding fathers’, and also that the link between economic liberalism, political liberalism, philosophical liberalism and ‘societal’ liberalism is not obvious to everyone. The liberal project, to use your phrase, is in my view a project that favours the individual over anything that exceeds him, relying on an anthropology that considers man as a being essentially driven by the desire to maximise his personal interest and private profit.
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Translated by Constantin von Hoffmeister
Alain de Benoist is the leading thinker of the European ‘New Right’ movement, a school of political thought founded in France in 1968 with the establishment of GRECE (Research and Study Group for European Civilisation). To this day he remains its primary representative, even while rejecting the label ‘New Right’ for himself. An ethnopluralist defender of cultural uniqueness and integrity, he has argued for the right of Europeans to retain their identity in the face of multiculturalism, and he has opposed immigration, while still preferring the preservation of native cultures over the forced assimilation of immigrant groups.
While there are many priorities for anti-globalists, the deconstruction of liberalism should be one of them. Especially in the United States, where many cannot imagine a political order other than liberalism. I believe deconstruction of liberalism on the American front, the heart of the liberal-globalist world order, will be needed in order to liberate Europe from liberalism. Europe is currently under the American yoke and that must be broken. Ending liberalism in America will cause a domino effect throughout the rest of it’s global empire.
Good analysis, I agree.
I think the USA is the only one who really believes in this shit. The rest are either bribed or threatened into following them.
Nah, the UK is just as bad in every way. France is quite close too. And don’t forget the weirdo super liberal Nordic countries!
Alain de Benoist is a coward. Not a warrior bone in his body.
There are many better voices out there.
Faye was right about him!
I’ve read about some of the instances you are hinting at. If true, really embarrassing.
We can either defend the nation-state or if lost, work on establishing new nation states. I prefer the second option!
This is the only de Benoist book I haven’t read…