Fact Check: "Prominent political leaders in US government are part of a movement called Dark Enlightenment that wants to dissolve the American system and insert themselves as rulers of city-states."
What We Know
The claim suggests that influential political leaders in the U.S. are associated with the Dark Enlightenment movement, which seeks to undermine the current governmental structure in favor of a system governed by city-states. The Dark Enlightenment, also known as the neo-reactionary movement, is characterized by its anti-democratic and anti-egalitarian views, advocating for a return to traditional forms of governance, including authoritarian capitalist city-states (Wikipedia, Cascade Institute).
Notable figures linked to this movement include Curtis Yarvin, who is often credited with its foundational ideas, and political figures like JD Vance, who has received significant support from venture capitalist Peter Thiel, a prominent supporter of the Dark Enlightenment (Wikipedia, Financial Times). The movement has gained traction within certain circles in Silicon Valley and has been described as a philosophical underpinning for various alt-right ideologies (Wikipedia, Time).
Analysis
While the claim that prominent political leaders are part of the Dark Enlightenment movement is supported by evidence, the assertion that they aim to "dissolve the American system" and replace it with city-states requires a more nuanced examination. The Dark Enlightenment does advocate for a radical restructuring of society, favoring a system where city-states operate under authoritarian governance rather than traditional democratic frameworks (Wikipedia, Information Warfare).
However, the extent to which this movement has penetrated mainstream politics is still debated. While individuals like JD Vance and Steve Bannon have been associated with these ideas, it is unclear whether they explicitly endorse the complete dissolution of the current American political system or merely advocate for significant reforms (Wikipedia, Guardian).
The sources discussing the Dark Enlightenment vary in reliability. Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview but should be cross-referenced with more specialized articles and analyses from credible outlets like the Financial Times and Time, which offer critical insights into the movement's implications and its influence on contemporary politics (Wikipedia, Financial Times, Time).
Conclusion
The claim is Partially True. It accurately identifies the association of some political leaders with the Dark Enlightenment movement and its radical ideas. However, the assertion that these leaders aim to entirely dissolve the American system in favor of city-states is more complex and lacks definitive evidence. While the movement promotes anti-democratic ideals, the specific goals of its political adherents are not uniformly aligned with the complete dismantling of the existing governmental structure.
Sources
- Dark Enlightenment - Wikipedia
- The Dark Enlightenment: Readings from the Book of Third Nature as ...
- The Rise of Dark Enlightenment - information-warfare.com
- Anti-democratic 'Dark Enlightenment' ideas have spread from Silicon ...
- The strange political philosophy motivating Musk - Financial Times
- Dark Enlightenment
- What We Must Understand About the Dark Enlightenment Movement - Time
- He's anti-democracy and pro-Trump: the obscure 'dark ... - The Guardian