the politics of necessity and eternal politics

[Beyond the politics of necessity and eternal politics]

It is not interesting at all to criticize the arguments for the invasion and the "devilization of Ukraine."
However, it is interesting to learn a lot from books related to Russia and Ukraine.Not only is it about learning about the history of distant countries that I didn't know, but it also gives me tips on thinking about Japan and East Asia.For example, through the Great Russianism, I was able to deepen my understanding of the true nature of Japan's great Asianism.

The particularly great harvest was that Timothy Snyder's writings gave him the concepts of "politics of necessity" and "politics of eternity."

Snyder is a researcher in modern and contemporary history of Central and Eastern Europe in the United States that has attracted attention in recent years.From the standpoint of anti-Putin, it is "World Without Freedom," which was originally published in 2018, that depicts the developments of Russia since the 21st century, focusing on the trend of right-wing reactionary ideas.

Among them, Snyder uses the term "politics of necessity" and "forever politics" not only about Russia.

"Politics of necessity" refers to the idea that the future direction has already been decided, and that the role of politics is to walk in that direction.Soviet communism, for example, that a rich and equal world can be created if socialistization is promoted under the leadership of the party.The end of the Cold War is the "end of history" and the neoliberalism is to create a rich world by expanding market freedom.

However, according to Snyder, "politics of necessity" causes various social disasters by ignoring the reality.At this time, they appear as if "forever politics" is a solution to this problem.

In the Soviet Union, the Khrushchev line, which had believed in socialist ideals in its own way, failed, and the leadership could no longer present a future in which it would create a country as rich as the West in economic competition.Brezhnev chose not to show the future, but to turn people's attention to the past glory of "the victory of the Great Motherland War" and to make the story of the West attacking and degrading the Soviet Union a myth of unity.

This is "forever politics."There is nothing but nostalgia, fear of the "enemy" and resistance to the fear of destruction, and there is no indication of the future to be headed for.Snyder uses Putin and Trump as typical examples of today's collapse of neo-liberalism.

The failure of "politics of necessity" creates "politics of eternity."Snyder sees both as political failures.They say that it is not politics."Both have no historical perspective," he said.Snyder does not explicitly describe politics that we should pursue, not politics of necessity or eternal politics, as "for example, this is it," but the way we criticize these two politics naturally comes to mind.While standing in the midst of historical reality, it is not driven by history, but as the subject of making history, and it is an effort to influence and change the reality, through which it will move toward the future.

Looking at the various right-wing ideas and campaigns that support the Putin administration in the "world without freedom," I feel a sense of foresight.The taste is different between vodka and sake, but the essence is the same as that of Japan.Japan fought the right war, and Japan's manufacturing that supported economic growth is still great. On the Internet, former ambassador to Korea curses South Korea, draws distorted images of South Korea, advertises North Korea's missiles and kidnapping threats, and uses them as centripetal force.In the end, the government tries to "non-Japaneseize" neighboring countries (to compare them to "non-Naziization" by using economic attacks called export restrictions).Even though everyone knows it's "revenge," the media and people pretend not to know.It is the same as a special military operation.In short, this is "forever politics.There is no intention of going into the future.After all, Shinzo Abe and Vladimir "are dreaming the same."

On the other hand, it is not "politics of necessity" or "politics of eternity," but in East Asia, South Korea and Taiwan have been engaged in political activities to change the future by encouraging the reality.That was exactly what Chinese critic Sun Yat-sen praised as "Korean democratic tradition."The two countries have transformed the historical reality created by the rift between colonial rule and the Cold War into a future direction.He has changed reality by denying the political framework created by international dynamics and the "ideas" that live in peace there.Perhaps such activities are taking place all over the world.Today's world is full of "forever politics" everywhere, but that's not all.Until just before the invasion, Ukraine probably had such activities.

If you think about it, it may be said that the Japanese liberalism since the Meiji era itself was "politics of necessity."It was in Japan that "forever politics" came out as soon as it was ridiculous.I have never experienced any other politics.I think it was Yoshiyoshi Takeuchi who criticized it and sought to overcome it.