 Cover of the 2009 Russian edition | |
| Author | Aleksandr Dugin |
|---|---|
| Original title | Четвёртая политическая теория |
| Translator | Mark Sleboda and Michael Millerman |
| Language | Russian |
| Subject | Political philosophy |
| Published | 2009 (Amfora) |
| Publication place | Russia |
Published in English | 2012 (Arktos Media) |
| Pages | 351 (Russian edn.) |
| ISBN | 978-5-367-01089-3 |
The Fourth Political Theory[a] is a book by theRussianphilosopher andpolitical analystAleksandr Dugin, first published in 2009. In the book, Dugin states that he is claiming the foundations for an entirely newpolitical ideology, the fourth political theory, which integrates and supersedesliberal democracy,Marxism, andfascism.[1] In this theory, the main subject of politics is notindividualism,class struggle, ornation, but ratherDasein (existence itself).[2]
| Part ofa series on |
| Conservatism in Russia |
|---|
 |
Politicians |
Literature |
In the book, Dugin states that he wishes to devise an entirely new political theory to replace what he identifies as the previous three dominant political theories:liberalism,fascism andcommunism. According to Dugin, his aim is to take elements from all three, 'neutralise and decontaminate' negative aspects such asracism and incorporate them into this new ideology. He refers to this ideology as a 'timeless, non-modern theory' valid for all time.
Dugin views liberalism as having 'defeated all its competitors'. He refers to the derision of the past by liberals and the modern concept of 'progress' as being seriously flawed, going so far as to describe it as racism and even 'moral genocide against the past'.[1]
From the three other political theories, he discards the aspects he finds unacceptable and highlights what he sees as the positive qualities. He combines them to form a new political theory based on the 'ethnos', describing this as 'the greatest value of the Fourth Political Theory as a cultural phenomenon; as a community of language, religious belief, daily life, and of sharing resources and efforts; as an organic entity'.[1]
Liberal Catholic magazineCommonweal described the book as a "schizoid mixture of theontology ofMartin Heidegger andGilles Deleuze,postmodern relativism,criticism of liberalism, and geopolitical megalomania".[3]
The Globe and Mail columnist Doug Sanders has cited the book in his insistence that Dugin is "the central figure" in the movement behind Russian policy in events such as theannexation of Crimea to Russia and thewar in Donbas; Dugin's work and the neo-Eurasianism englobing it are pointed at in this context byForeign Policy as well (though this particular book is not named).[4][5] French philosopherAlain de Benoist asserts a similar dynamic in this conflict.[6]
According toEl Confidencial, the book has been influential in far-left and far-right circles in both Russia and the West.[7]Newsweek accusedSteve Bannon, White House Chief Strategist andSenior Counselor to PresidentDonald Trump, of having ideological links with Dugin,[8] something that Dugin himself confirmed[9] and was later repeated byThe Independent, that noted how Dugin's thought is influencing both Putin and Turkish presidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan.[10]
