fuser wrote:Welcome aboard.
Stalin or Trotsky?
Oh dear
Preferably neither, though I have a hard time believing Trotsky would have been as murderously ruthless as Stalin was. Even in his youth Stalin had a rather sadistic character. So I can't really envision a scenario where I would prefer Stalin to Trotsky.
fuser wrote:Also alternatehistory forum? What shenanigans is this? There are no other forums but here is an alternate history question for you..... What if Russia adopted Islam?
Pardon my transgression x) Hmm, for Islam to catch on in Russia, you'd probably need a more influential or more lasting Mongol Empire (hard enough to do in itself!) or perhaps a stronger successor horde in the West that was able to continue to exert influence over the Rus for a longer period of time. It would probably be either a devastating blow for Orthodox Christianity or in the case of more West-focused Mongols, it might result in Orthodox Christianity simply continuing to exist in the Balkans (potentially resulting in a pan-Balkan identity revolving around the Orthodox faith; that would be neat). A big question is whether or not the Ottoman Empire or an equivalent rises in Anatolia as well as what the relations between these two large, probably expansionist Islamic states are like. My guess is that, with the possible exception of battling it out over Crimea (if this Russia is even interested in Crimea) they would probably adopt a relationship of mutual detente: I'll stay out of your interests if you stay out of mine.
What I would like to see in such a world is what heresies develop, both within Islam and within Christendom. The time of the Protestant Reformation, for instance, was one of change for both religions. I can't see something like Islamic Protestantism developing but perhaps greater distance withing the community between Sunnis, Shias, Ibadis, and perhaps even a new 'Steppe' Islam that might, say, give the Khans more reverential treatment (I'm speculating
really hard at this point though). Catholic Europe, in turn, might galvanize in response to sort of being surrounded on all sides. More vigorously anti-heretical princes, a more involved Pope and a substantial and perhaps official redefining of Europe as the domain of Christianity (no hemming and hawing over whether Europe ends at the Urals in this world; Europe ends where Russia begins) might result in a more ideologically united but probably more militant, authoritarian, and xenophobic Europe. Of course, this is just one possible take on a question with very big implications.
Okay, nerd mode off.
Reichstraten wrote:Hello. Who do you think is the most interesting political theorist alive?
Truth be told, I'm not that familiar with more contemporary political thinkers! The most recent theorist whose views I hold to be particularly new and interesting is Foucault. Do you have any suggestions?
Victoribus Spolia wrote:
I think you will find Dugin's "The Fourth Political Theory" to be the better work on the Eurasian thesis and Russia's current trends.
https://www.amazon.com/Fourth-Political ... ndre+dugin
Also, here is an English copy of the book you seek:
https://www.amazon.com/Foundations-Geop ... ndre+dugin
Ah, thank you much! I'm not sure why I wasn't able to find it. I don't doubt that Dugin put the weight of his theory in 'Fourth Political Theory', though I'm interested in 'Foundations of Geopolitics' given its popularity among the Russian military elite, to the point of being used as a textbook. Perhaps I'll give the former a read through once my reading list is lighter, though buying either of them will have to wait until I actually start work at my new job x) thanks again!
Victoribus Spolia wrote:Oh.....and welcome to PoFo BTW....
I am the biggest leftist on here.
Power To The People!!
My scanning of various parts of the site hasn't exactly given me that impression x) though your views are your own and I definitely don't want to be that asshole who just shits on other peoples' views
My only hope is to engage in civil discourse.