Which bit of history does this represent?
At first I thought it might be the break up of the USSR, but that doesn't really work here. So that leaves me at a loss.
I just can't see how Gorbachev and Trump, or their actions, are similar.
this post was submitted on 06 Apr 2025
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Listened to a podcast with a person who lived in the ussr when it fell and was comparing it to current day America. Basically they were saying that people are becoming more cynical and don't really believe in the project any more and are waiting for something to come along and fundamentally change things.
With gorbachev it was a turn to democratic liberal capitalism, with trump its a turn to autocratic neo-mercantalism.
Both could bring down the great empires of the twentieth century.
The idea is called Hypernormalisation. Everyone knows what they're being told is a lie, most don't care, some do but a powerless to do anything about it, the rest are actively perpetuating the lie.
Excellent documentary about it by Adam Curtis which is watchable here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Gr7T07WfIhM
With gorbachev it was a turn to ~~democratic~~ liberal capitalism, with trump its a turn to ~~autocratic neo-mercantalism~~ fascism.
Nothing about Russia after the USSR is democratic, not even the dissolution. As for the US, yeah its just fascism, fits the mold quite well.
not even the dissolution
Especially not the dissolution. They had a referendum to attempt to legitimize the dissolution, which failed in a landslide, and then they ignored it and did it anyway.
trump its a turn to autocratic neo-mercantalism.
Yea there's that, also the rounding up minorities for a nationalistic reason... if only the English language offered some word for that. Squashing undesirables/enemies due to nationalism with rhetoric like them poisoning the blood, being vermin, etc. I seem to recall a history lesson or two if only I could remember. I feel it's some odd word no one knows how to use anymore, I think it rhymes with plascism.
I don't mean it to be a perfect analogy, I just found it funny that these are two idiots enacting big sweeping changes in political or economic organization that are likely to end up killing the host. Gorbachev's USSR died at the hands of the US and its puppets while in the US capital seems to be cannibalizing itself.
I'm not sure calling Gorbechev an idiot is right though.
Just because he was a victim of external interests, as you describe. Feels a bit victim-blamey.
"Look what you made the US do to you".
Yeltsin, maybe though.
Yeltsin watching Gorbachev get all the blame
Isn't Trump more of a Yeltsin?
Something familiar
Something peculiar
Something for everyone—a comedy tonight!
Something appealing
Something appalling
Something for everyone—a comedy tonight!
Nothing with kings
Nothing with crowns;
Bring on the lovers, liars and clowns
I like "history doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes" a bit better.