Progressive Radicalism (DSA)

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Progressive Radicalism, also known as Radical Progressivism, Rooseveltism, or Left-Rooseveltism, is a political philosophy heavily based in the historical American progressive and social democratic movements and the doctrine of the Radical Wing of the Yankee Progressive Party. Like standard progressivism, it seeks to advance the rights and condition of mankind, but with more of a focus on government intervention, American Patriotism, military power and anti-communism.

Ideology

Generally considered to be rooted in the ideals of 26th President Theodore Roosevelt and 32nd President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the general doctrines of Radical Progressivism fall more in line with modern social democracy, and on occasion, more left wing non-communist movements such as Democratic Socialism and Libertarian Socialism. Radical Progressives generally support social democratic principles, state welfare, corporate regulations, and social liberalism, combined with support for the military, its perceived ideals of a Free America, and patriotic rhetoric, as well as fierce anti-communism. A firmly democratic ideology, it has still drawn criticism for its expansion of government control from various parties, anti-business interests and nationalization from the right, and its nationalistic tendencies and reformist capitalist outlook from the left. Uniquely American, and typically only in the United Commonwealth and with minority factions in Washington, it has drawn comparisons to Turkish Kemalism and Chinese Tridemism in its mixtures of democracy, nationalism, and social liberalism,[1] and by some, its alleged authoritarianism, though this is generally considered untrue. One political analyst said of it "This Rooseveltism appears to be righteous, and much of it is, but I fear its more authoritative tendencies. Liberty and progress are typically things to strive for, but what good are they when you spread them at the tip of a bayonet?"[2]

  1. John Scrunglo, A Guide to the New Millennium, 2001
  2. Dr. Alfonso C. Carnegie, The Legacy of the Roosevelts, 2003