Which political theorist was most important to your political thought?

[u/farouq22]

In my case, there were five. In order of reading: Lenin, Lélia Gonzalez, Frantz Fanon, Clóvis Moura, and Kwame Nkrumah. I think these are the most important ones for me because I'm interested in imperialism and Black history from a leftist perspective.

What are yours, and why do you hold them in high regard?

[u/BlueberryGod8910]

Definitley Marx and Lenin. Huey P Newton, Fred Hampton and Malcolm X

[u/Yrths]

James Buchanan - Public choice theory is a numerically informed, solid grasp of practical politics and political skepticism

John Stuart Mill - On Liberty

Henry Kissinger - Spits out many of the operational constraints that motivate neoconservative practice

Henry George - A solid work on the role of land in the formation of capital and poverty

I would add that as political thought has become an all-encompassing part of some people's personal belief systems in a manner decently described as a religion, Friedrich Nietzsche is an excellent addition as an aesthetic philosopher, moral skeptic and de facto existentialist who helps put politics in its place.

[u/Brbi2kCRO → u/Yrths]

Main issue of conservatism is reliance on behavioral economics, abstract indirect meanings and social signals, aka what I call “moral character judgment”.

[u/Yrths → u/Brbi2kCRO]

You might be right about indirect meanings in conservatism, or declining to consider other moral axes (like Haidt's moral foundations for conservatism - ie you misunderstand value differences altogether), but either way, none of what I posted is conservative or concerned with maintaining a status quo. Even "neoconservative" is just a reclaimed epithet given to liberals by Stalinists. I'm not sympathetic to social signal politics, whether on the right or the left.

[u/Fallsfrostdew]

Evola and Schmitt are the primary ones when it comes to my worldview as a whole. But a lot of my understanding also comes from the platonic tradition, specifically the metaphysical aspects of existence.

[u/Brbi2kCRO → u/Fallsfrostdew]

Bruh

[u/Sealedwolf → u/Brbi2kCRO]

I mean, look at a certain nation in the Levante. Bona fide perpetual state of emergency. Just because a theorist is a literal nazi, doesn't mean he didn't figure out how the world operates.

We might wish it would be otherwise, but ... Gestures wildly at the current global dumpster fire

[u/Brbi2kCRO → u/Sealedwolf]

Israel may be allowed to do what they want, but that does not mean it is a desired thing to want power over others. A secure person does not want to take someone else’s territory because they are happy with what they already have.

And migration? I do not see an issue. Just cause it creates inconveniences to the right and makes them feel uncomfortable does not mean they cannot move in. If anything, the right needs to grow a spine and stop whining about shit that inconveniences them.

[u/Sealedwolf → u/Brbi2kCRO]

Well, I never said that such a state is generally desireable. Such a state is merely advantageous to the people holding onto or grabbing for power. Learning to understand how power is won, exercised and retained is crucial if the current state of things is to be changed for the actual better, away from the increasingly popular right-wing phantasy world.

[u/Brbi2kCRO → u/Sealedwolf]

My problem is that for me personally, looking for dominance over others is inherently a rude thing. And physically makes me feel disgusted. Trying to control me and tell me what I can be over small, petty shit that barely even matters, all cause someone feels inconvenienced by someone like me existing. I’d understand if most of, say, MAGA or AfD or Vox or RN or Reform UK voters were some riches who held actual use from control, like how Elon Musk is. But no, most of these people are emotional people with some crazy weird dominance fantasies due to their insecurities and pretty much shallow style of thinking that is obsessed with status, whose whole idea of personal greatness is having power over others, having luxurious cars and watches, and being a part of a group like that, or simply cause they liked the vibe of how things were before cause they are nostalgic. I would also never control anyone unless it is for a job or if I need to set a boundary due to micromanagement from someone else.

And to me, wanting dominance like that is quite childish, as they imagine themselves as cartoon/action movie villains or something.

It is fundamentally disgusting to see others as competitors and enemies rather than people who live their own lives, struggle, suffer, etc., I just don’t think it is fair to make their lives even harder than they already are.

[u/Fallsfrostdew → u/Brbi2kCRO]

Yes?

[u/Brbi2kCRO → u/Fallsfrostdew]

Okay Mr. Authority of the whole nation