Fukuyama argued that liberal-democratic capitalism is the best possible social order, and further development would consist of its spread on a global level. However, only three decades have passed since his statement, and now we are facing the opposite reality.
There is now an opinion that liberal-democratic capitalism, with its complex rules and guarantees of basic human rights, such as freedom of speech and access to education, has declined. In its place has come a brutal new world, where the strong subjugate the weak, and ideologies have lost their significance, giving way to raw economic, military, and political power.
U.S. President Donald Trump did not intervene in the situation in Venezuela to restore democracy; his actions were aimed at gaining access to the country’s rich resources. Similarly, Vladimir Putin initiated the conflict with Ukraine, seeking to reclaim territories and restore the image of "Great Russia" that existed before the Bolshevik Revolution.
Today's worldview is based on impeccable realism.
According to this approach, if you are a small country, you should resign yourself to constant fear. If you have the opportunity to wield power, do so, as moral principles no longer matter. In this new post-ideological world, many argue, the mask of human rights and respect for sovereignty has disappeared.
However, this is not true. Our post-liberal world is permeated with ideology more than ever.
Trump's idea of "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) is purely ideological, even if it often contradicts his actions. Steve Bannon, one of Trump's chief ideologues, positions himself as a Leninist seeking to dismantle state structures. Nevertheless, under Trump, the American state has become more powerful and authoritarian, often violating laws and interfering in democratic processes. In the context of MAGA, "freedom of speech" serves the interests of the strong, allowing them to humiliate the weak rather than support the oppressed.
The situation is similar in Israel and Russia. Israel is engulfed in Zionist fundamentalism, which uses biblical texts to justify violent colonization. Putin legitimizes his power by relying on Eurasian ideology, which opposes Western liberal thought and asserts the importance of traditional values. In this context, individuals must be ready to sacrifice for society.
Alexander Dugin, Putin's leading ideologue, describes the main characteristics of Homo putinus, stating: "For us, life seems to have less value than for a Western person. We believe that there are things that are more important than mere existence, and this is the foundation of any faith."
In this context, we are far from a real understanding of the world: the prevailing "realism" ignores the necessary ideology to maintain the status quo.
This contradiction manifests itself in the modern world, where many states rely on armed gangs to maintain power. Haiti, where a successful slave revolution occurred 200 years ago, is today a vivid example of a "failed state," where gangs control 80% of the territory. Similar situations are observed in Ecuador and some regions of Mexico, where drug cartels effectively govern the area.
It is also worth considering the actions of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, which acts as an ideological police, sometimes putting the government in a difficult position. Recall the case of Mahsa Amini's murder for allegedly wearing her hijab incorrectly. The Wagner Group was used by the Russian government to cover its actions abroad but ultimately turned against the regime.
The most obvious example is the Israeli settlers, who systematically terrorize Palestinians in the West Bank. They act as an independent movement, committing crimes ranging from arson to physical violence. The Israel Defense Forces generally do not intervene, except in cases of active resistance from Palestinians. In this case, the criminal actions of the settlers are tolerated and even encouraged by the state to maintain the appearance.
And, of course, Trump. He previously instigated a rebellion against constitutional authorities in the U.S. and is now carrying out internal colonization by sending Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents into Democrat-controlled cities, instilling fear in the local population. ICE has increased its forces by 120% since Trump's return, hiring 12,000 new employees and providing them with weapons after just 47 days of training. In masks, they act as Trump's settlers, forcefully invading homes without warrants and breaking the law. A priest from Minneapolis noted that ICE is worse than drug cartels in his home country.
However, there is an important distinction: unlike Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Putin, Trump does not distance himself from his gang. He directly manages it and orders it to ignore democratic institutions and local authorities.
Thus, Trump, as the head of the executive branch, is simultaneously the highest law enforcer and the leader of a gang. This echoes G.K. Chesterton's thought that "Christianity is the only religion that believes omnipotence makes God incomplete." Ironically, one could say that Trump tries to act like a rebellious god: de facto king, ruling his country through decrees, and at the same time the main opponent of the state.
Trump's recent actions highlight this paradox. He filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Internal Revenue Service for $10 billion, claiming that his personal interests were violated. This creates a situation where he is both the plaintiff and the defendant, raising doubts even among some Republican lawmakers. Trump acknowledged his "strange position" when he would have to "negotiate with himself." Democratic Senator Adam Schiff noted: "It's hard not to admire the audacity of this fraud. It's just brazen."
A situation like this has already been depicted not in reality but in film: in Woody Allen's class Bannanas (1971), the main character acts as his own lawyer, questioning himself in court. Half a century later, reality has outpaced the joke.
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2026. www.project-syndicate.org
Slavoj Žižek
The entry "Trump as a Symbol of Rebellion: The Collapse of the Liberal-Democratic Capitalist Order" first appeared in K-News.
