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  • Published: 13 April 2021
  • ISBN: 9780141992037
  • Imprint: Penguin Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $22.99

War for Eternity

The Return of Traditionalism and the Rise of the Populist Right





A riveting exposé of the hidden philosophical movement that drives the Far Right around the world

Steve Bannon in the United States. Olavo de Carvalho in Brazil. Aleksandr Dugin in Russia. Gábor Vona in Hungary. All rising to power in the past decade. All affiliated with an obscure philosophical movement called Traditionalism.

Since the early 20th century, Traditionalism has defined itself against modernity and Enlightenment values. Traditionalist thinkers such as René Guénon and Julius Evola celebrated hierarchy, denounced the idea of progress, and regarded liberal secularism, capitalism, and communism as aligned forces working to replace social, cultural and political norms. Ethnographer Benjamin Teitelbaum had been studying Traditionalism for years as a sort of novelty, associated with a restless subsection of the right - too antisocial for activism and largely without influence. And yet when Steve Bannon entered the White House in 2017, reports suggested he was an avid reader of Traditionalist teachings.

Through exclusive interviews and deep historical context, Teitelbaum reveals the radical worldview infusing the thinking of powerful actors and inspiring a renegade reinterpretation of humanity, geopolitics and history. Fast-paced and gripping, War for Eternity is a must-read for anyone trying to understand the Far Right's vision to change the world.

  • Published: 13 April 2021
  • ISBN: 9780141992037
  • Imprint: Penguin Press
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 336
  • RRP: $22.99

Praise for War for Eternity

All politics are now internationalized, and it is impossible to understand one country's internal dynamics without that recognition. In his new book, Benjamin Teitelbaum's examination of three critical figures shaping the global right in three vital countries -- the U.S., Russia and Brazil -- is such an indispensable text not only for understanding those nations but also some of the most profound and tumultuous political shifts defining societies on every continent

Glen Greenwald