It No Longer Matters What Trump Will Say

Published in Vzglyad
(Russia) on 1 February 2017
by Andrei Khokhlov (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by David Batuner. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.
Here is what I have been thinking: Sure, Trump is not the colorful revolutionary who sent a signal to the rotting post-Yalta world order. He is probably just an upstart, and will act "decently," gradually integrating into the American neoliberal political establishment. All of that is unimportant.

For us, modern Russian people, it is much more important to watch how the monolith of the old political discourse crumbles. After all, it was all set in stone; a blade of grass could not break through the concrete jungle of the old world order and no effort could change anything.

Now, Trump and the right-wing populists in Europe are beginning to use a new political language, calling things by their names, breaking taboos, raising fringe questions on the world's agenda.

The world is in motion. It no longer matters what Trump will say, nor what he will do with regards to anti-Russia sanctions.

The most important thing is to keep speaking in this "new language," to discuss the merits of a revolution against the establishment and old neoliberal stereotypes.

Fine, today there is no counterrevolution, there is no powerful political movement as an alternative to the establishment. If you say "down with Babylon!" a hundred times, the walls will fall.

It is important to confront previously taboo topics and let new meanings have a chance to grow through the concrete of respectable evil.


Вот о чем я подумал: конечно, Трамп не тот яркий революционер, бросивший вызов прогнившей постялтинской системе мирового порядка. Возможно, он просто выскочка и будет себя вести «прилично», постепенно интегрируясь в американский неолиберальный политический истеблишмент. Это все неважно.
Для нас, современных русских людей, гораздо важнее следить за тем, как разрушается монолит прежнего политического дискурса. Ведь все было забетонировано, травинка не прорастет в каменных джунглях прежнего миропорядка. И никакие силы не были способны ничего изменить.
И вот Трамп и правые популисты в Европе начинают использовать другой политический язык, называя вещи своими именами, разрушая табу, поднимая «маргинальные» вопросы в мировой повестке.
Мир пришел в движение. Уже все равно, что скажет Трамп и, как он поступит в отношении антироссийских санкций.
Главное, продолжать говорить на этом «новом языке», обсуждать революцию достоинства против истеблишмента и старых неолиберальных стереотипов.
Пусть, сегодня нет никакой контрреволюции, не существует мощного политического движения, как альтернативы истеблишменту. Если сто раз произнести «долой Вавилон!», – стены падут.
Важно проговорить, табуированные, ранее темы и дать возможность новым смыслам прорасти сквозь бетон добропорядочного зла.
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