I’d be interested in a post dealing specifically with Cromwell. A lot of (supposedly) Christian Nationalist types are hailing Cromwell as a perfect model for leaders in our budding movement.
Imo, he’s more of a sacred cow begging to be annihilated. But interested in your take, regardless.
I'm still working out my view of Cromwell. He was the great enemy of traditionalist England--the England defended by Hooker. However, interpreting Cromwell as a man of action who resolved a crisis by subsuming ultimate authority in a state of emergency, the particularist should be open to his decisionist impulses. Still working this one out. Gottfried likes him. I'm not sure yet--go back and forth.
I can understand respecting Cromwell as a man of action and resolve, one who wields political power in a state of exception.
But for most “conservative” Cromwell respecters, I don’t think this is how they understand him. They see him instead as a man fighting for universal principles of freedom from “tyranny” (which they assume is 1:1 with monarchy)
In fact, I think they flip your view on its head—they love his egalitarian principles but eschew his use of force.
The only difference between their view and the leftist view of Cromwell is that the leftists have a greater appreciation for his revolutionary use of force. The leftist application of Cromwell is better.
I think Trotsky is right when he says “Lenin is the proletarian twentieth-century Cromwell.” (*braces to be accused of “Marxism”*)
Good stuff C. Jay.
I’d be interested in a post dealing specifically with Cromwell. A lot of (supposedly) Christian Nationalist types are hailing Cromwell as a perfect model for leaders in our budding movement.
Imo, he’s more of a sacred cow begging to be annihilated. But interested in your take, regardless.
I'm still working out my view of Cromwell. He was the great enemy of traditionalist England--the England defended by Hooker. However, interpreting Cromwell as a man of action who resolved a crisis by subsuming ultimate authority in a state of emergency, the particularist should be open to his decisionist impulses. Still working this one out. Gottfried likes him. I'm not sure yet--go back and forth.
I can understand respecting Cromwell as a man of action and resolve, one who wields political power in a state of exception.
But for most “conservative” Cromwell respecters, I don’t think this is how they understand him. They see him instead as a man fighting for universal principles of freedom from “tyranny” (which they assume is 1:1 with monarchy)
In fact, I think they flip your view on its head—they love his egalitarian principles but eschew his use of force.
The only difference between their view and the leftist view of Cromwell is that the leftists have a greater appreciation for his revolutionary use of force. The leftist application of Cromwell is better.
I think Trotsky is right when he says “Lenin is the proletarian twentieth-century Cromwell.” (*braces to be accused of “Marxism”*)