# The Rise of Radicalism By Eugene H. Methvin **URL:** **By** George H. Smith **Published:** April 1, 1974 --- “Despite these reservations, however, I strongly recommend this book.” The Rise Of Radicalism is a panoramic study of totalitarians from Plato, Rousseau and Robespierre to Marx, Lenin, Hitler, Mao and prominent figures of the New Left. Beginning with Plato, who taught that man "should teach his soul, by long habit, never to dream of acting independently, and to become utterly incapable of it," Eugene Methvin traces the development of the totalitarian ideology and tactics to such contemporary "revolutionaries" as Huey Newton. Referring to those who disagree with him, Long declared: "We'll change their minds or else in the people's name we'll have to wipe them out thoroughly, wholly, absolutely and completely." This book is more than a simple history of persons and events; it is an exploration of the totalitarian mentality. Methvin examines the life history and psychology of each of his subjects, and he attempts to explain the motives lurking behind the desire to rule others. Rousseau, for example, wrote that "Fear and shame rule me to such a degree that I should like to hide from everyone's sight," and he went on to advocate the subjugation of the individual to the "general will"—an idea that Methvin attributes to "a bruised ego needing self-esteem." The Rise of Radicalism, in the author's words, "is a kaleidoscopic drama of messiahs in search of followers and followers in search of messiahs." Although Methvin appears more conservative than libertarian, his book contains strong libertarian sentiments. For instance, again referring to Rousseau, he writes: "his ideological descendents—Robespierre, Marx, Lenin, Stalin, and Mao—erected out of his general will a great god, 'The People,' upon whose altar the high priests of the general will have in the name of the state slaughtered millions of persons." Unfortunately, _The Rise of Radicalism_ contains numerous flaws, the most serious of which is its title. Methvin's use of the term "radical" is severely restricted and refers specifically to one who advocates violent revolution and the establishment of a "revolutionary dictatorship." This use of "radical" is tragic, not only because it distorts the actual meaning of the term, but also because it lends support to the notion that radicalism of any kind, regardless of its ideals and methods, is destructive—which, of course, is plainly false. For my part, I would like to have seen this book called _The Rise of Totalitarianism_, because this is its actual theme. Despite these reservations, however, I strongly recommend this book. Vividly written, it contains an enormous amount of information concerning the methods, and motives, of various authoritarian personalities. And it lays to rest, once and for all, the myth that the New Left has any fundamental ideological kinship to libertarian principles. _Reviewed by George H. Smith / Politics (544 pages, indexed) / BFL Price $11.95_