Reviewed by Andrew Andersen
CMISS – Asteroid Publishing, Canada
This book will undoubtedly nail you to your chair, whether you're well-versed in left movements or just starting to explore the topic. It offers a comprehensive analysis of the origins and history of socialist and pseudo-socialist movements from the 17th century to the present day, providing meticulous insight into the evolution of their ideologies. The author adeptly navigates the upper echelons of reality, debunking myths and exposing the falsehoods and duplicity behind ideological signposts and pseudoscientific clichés employed by left-wing politicians and philosophers from Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to contemporary apologists of Globalism such as Klaus Schwab. He unveils the intricate web of deception that characterizes these movements, asserting that modern Globalism is simply another iteration of leftist ideology.
Gary Gindler, the author of the book, holds a Ph.D. in Physics and is also recognized as a political journalist with a substantial portfolio of published articles. A naturalized American citizen, he was born, raised, and educated in the Soviet Union, providing him with invaluable experience that enables him to compare two politico-economic systems: Soviet-style "socialism" and free-market "capitalism," as well as anticipate potential consequences of America's current shift to the left.
In the first chapter of the book, the author adeptly elucidates two crucial points that may not be immediately apparent to less experienced readers. Firstly, he underscores that leftist ideologies, irrespective of their specific branches, are not truly progressive, as they often purport to be. Instead, they are regressive, seeking to revert society to a primitive state characterized by collectivism, also known as primordial communism. Secondly, Gindler highlights the unrealistic nature of the collectivist utopia, which has long been the central ideal of leftist movements. He argues that this utopia is not achievable in practice and has historically been used by leftist leaders as a deceptive ploy to rally support from the masses, with no genuine intention of realizing it once in power. In this context, I'd like to share a quote from one of my colleagues who, in the early 1980s, posed a question to a prominent figure of communist Cuba during a visit to his opulent gated estate. When asked when all Cubans would finally enjoy a decent standard of living, the response was chilling: "That will never happen, as we did not make our revolution for those pigs." The author also demonstrates significant bravery by labeling Ernesto "Che" Guevara—a renowned leader of Cuban and international communist movement and a cult figure for many young Westerners—a mass murderer, which is an accurate portrayal of his actions.
Another important observation which permeates throughout the whole book is that within the last two centuries the leftist movements were choosing various “underprivileged social groups” or “victims” to rely upon in their struggle against Western “Capitalist” civilization. At the beginning of Marxist era, that group was the working-class people. However, as soon as the workers turned their back on the leftists, the leftists quickly found a few other groups, namely – racial and sexual minorities. It goes withpout saying, and Gindler repeatedly mentions it, that in reality, the leftists do not care about the well-being of those groups and would like to use them exclusively as the tools in their struggle. The author reminds the audience that the only real “workers” revolution was the anti-communist revolution which took place in Poland in 1980-1989. The author also contends that the Nazi regime established in Germany in 1933 represented just another branch of the leftist socialist movement and cannot be accurately categorized as a right-wing regime, as it is often portrayed in contemporary Western universities, which are heavily influenced by leftist ideologies.
In its second chapter, the book offers a thorough examination of the dynamics of the individual-state paradigm, employing an original cultural-historical method of analysis. This approach distinguishes the book from the studies of many of Gindler's colleagues, who predominantly utilize sociological and structural methods, often overlooking the significant fusion of socialist pseudo-collectivism with the concept of a strong, controlling state.
The third chapter delves into contemporary Globalism, which Gindler portrays as the most sophisticated form of leftism, aiming to achieve objectives similar to those of the communists, namely the eradication of nation-states and their replacement with a global administration represented by unelected transnational institutions. The author lucidly explains that the new world order envisaged by the globalists would further erode the remnants of people's freedom and human rights.
Gindler identifies the global destruction of education as one of the tools of contemporary Globalism. He defines this agenda as the gradual replacement of mass education with the "moronification" of the masses. This thesis was actually addressed over a century ago by Gustav Le Bon, who scientifically predicted the destruction of education by the leftists of his time.
The fourth and final chapter, entitled "Summa Ideologicae," aims to clarify the complex terminology often misinterpreted by students of this topic. Although short, this chapter is also quite important.
The book concludes with an impressive and useful bibliography, providing interested audience with further reading to significantly broaden their horizons and deepen their understanding of the important matters addressed in the book.
While greatly appreciating the book, it's important to note that it contains some minor errors and inaccuracies. For instance, the author mentions "white flags" used by Russian anti-communists (also known as "the Whites") during the civil war of 1918-1922. However, most of the flags used by these movements were white-over-blue-over-red tricolors, similar to the contemporary flag of the Russian Federation. There is no evidence of white flags being used during that war. Additionally, it is unclear what Gindler meant by "Trumpism," as followers of Donald Trump in the USA and beyond do not seem to share any common ideology.
In general, however, "Left Imperialism from Cardinal Richelieu to Klaus Schwab" is well-written and serves as a valuable resource for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of modern politics, the developmental trends of our civilization, and the near future of humanity as a whole.
Andrew Andersen: biographical note:
Dr. Andrew (Andreas) Andersen is a Canadian historian, journalist, and political scientist. Born in the USSR in 1959, Andersen holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Germanic philology, as well as a Ph.D. in history from Moscow State University. His doctoral thesis examined the US role in the Vietnam War (1962–75) and its media coverage.
From 1983 to 1989, he served as a researcher and teaching adjunct at the Department of Journalism at Moscow State University. With the onset of Perestroika, Andersen repatriated to Germany as an ethnic German, initially working in the oil industry before transitioning to roles as a translator, interpreter, and eventually joining the Wirtschaftsakademie Schleswig-Holstein. There, he coordinated seminars, courses, and projects focused on Eastern Europe.
Between 1994 and 2003, Dr. Andersen taught at various North American universities, including Simon Fraser University and the University of Victoria. During this time, he conducted extensive research on political dynamics and conflicts in the Caucasus region and other parts of Europe and Asia.
From 2003 to 2023, he served as a national fellow at the Centre for Military, Security, and Strategic Studies at the University of Calgary in Canada. His current research interests center on the history and politics of Georgia, Russia, and other post-Soviet states, with a particular focus on the historical, cultural, and ethnic dimensions of the ongoing crises in the South Caucasus and the broader Middle East region.
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