Read Carefully: The Two Documents In The Ideologies Section

Read Carefully The Two Documents In The Section Ideologies Of The Axi

Read carefully the two documents in the section “Ideologies of the Axis Powers” at the end of Chapter 20. Write an essay addressing the following questions: In what ways did Hitler and the authors of the Cardinal Principles find fault with mainstream Western societies and their political and social values? The essay must be: Between 1000 and 1200 words in length Double-spaced, using a normal-sized font, such as Times New Roman 12-point Properly cited: Cite sources—whether directly quoted, paraphrased or summarized--using Chicago-Style citation Use appropriate scholarly sources rather than dubious sources such as Wikipedia Plagiarism free: Contain no plagiarism whatsoever; any plagiarized material will receive zero points and may result in further action as per College policy

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The ideologies propagated by Adolf Hitler and the authors of the Cardinal Principles of the Axis Powers represent a stark critique of Western political and social values, emphasizing a worldview rooted in nationalism, racial superiority, and a rejection of liberal democracy. These documents reveal a profound dissatisfaction with the standards of Western society, perceiving them as corrupt, decadent, and fundamentally flawed. This essay explores how both Hitler and the authors of the Cardinal Principles articulate their condemnation of Western policies and values, highlighting shared themes of racial hierarchy, anti-communism, militarism, and cultural revival as alternatives to Western liberalism and democracy.

Hitler’s Mein Kampf and the ideological statements of the Axis authors demonstrate a fierce critique of Western societies, particularly targeting their political systems, moral principles, and cultural orientation. Hitler viewed the liberal democratic order, epitomized by parliamentary regimes and individual freedoms, as weakened and morally decayed. He argued that such systems fostered materialism, individualism, and a decline in national spirit (Evans, 2003). In his view, Western societies had abdicated their traditional values and replaced them with liberalism, which he regarded as a form of cultural and racial decline. For Hitler, the basis of Western society was fundamentally flawed because it prioritized equality and individual rights over racial purity and national strength (Kershaw, 1998).

The Axis authors, although varied in their specific doctrines, shared these criticisms, emphasizing that Western societies had become spiritually and culturally bankrupt. They accused Western nations of being overly materialistic, morally relativistic, and decadent. For instance, the authors of the Cardinal Principles questioned the decadence of Western liberal capitalism, which they saw as exploiting workers and undermining national cohesion (Burleigh & Wippermann, 1991). They asserted that these societies promoted individualism at the expense of community and collective identity, which they deemed essential for a unified and strong nation.

A central point of contention for both Hitler and the Axis ideological writers was the concept of race. They argued that Western societies, especially through policies and cultural practices influenced by liberalism, had betrayed the ideals of racial hierarchy and purity. Hitler explicitly promoted the pseudo-scientific idea of Aryan racial superiority, which he believed was the foundation of a strong, unified nation capable of restoring Germany’s rightful place in the world (Bullock, 1952). He condemned the multiculturalism and racial egalitarianism promoted by Western democracies, considering them not only morally wrong but detrimental to the biological and cultural health of the nation.

Similarly, the authors of the Cardinal Principles emphasized the importance of racial identity and hierarchy, criticizing Western liberal democracies for their perceived neglect of racial and cultural cohesion. They promoted the idea of a racially pure state, which could only be achieved through strict social policies and a rejection of what they saw as the corrupting influence of liberal values. The view was that Western societies, in their pursuit of individual rights and equality, had unwittingly fostered divisiveness and weaken their national fabric, thereby making them vulnerable to external and internal threats (Robert Paxton, 2004).

Both Hitler and the Axis authors were vehemently anti-communist, viewing communism as another manifestation of Western decay and a threat to racial and national purity. Hitler depicted communism as a tool used by Jewish influence to destabilize nations, a narrative that justified aggressive anti-Semitic policies. They believed that liberal societies had enabled the spread of communism through political and economic liberalization, which they associated with chaos, subversion, and the destruction of traditional social hierarchies (Welch, 2010). For the Axis ideologues, restoring order required a rejection of these Western influences and the establishment of authoritarian, racial states grounded in their ideological principles.

Militarism and the glorification of war also emerged as prominent themes in their critique of Western society. Hitler believed that true strength lay in military might and disciplined national communities that valued sacrifice and heroism (Kershaw, 1998). Western societies, with their emphasis on peace and diplomacy, were seen as hypocritical and weak. The Axis documents advocate for the rearmament and militarization of the nation as a means of achieving national revitalization and asserting dominance on the world stage. This was in direct opposition to Western internationalist values, which they viewed as promoting appeasement and complacency.

Culturally, Hitler and the Axis writers called for a revival of traditional values rooted in racial pride, discipline, and national culture. They criticized Western cultural institutions for promoting liberal individualism, secularism, and decadence, which they believed eroded the moral fiber of societies. Instead, they sought to establish a new cultural order based on racial ideals, heroism, and collective patriotism. This cultural revival aimed to restore the perceived integrity and greatness of the nation, contrasting sharply with Western societies’ focus on cosmopolitanism and multiculturalism (Levi, 1998).

In conclusion, Hitler and the authors of the Cardinal Principles found numerous faults with Western mainstream societies, particularly criticizing their political liberalism, moral relativism, racial policies, and cultural decadence. Their ideologies reflect a desire to replace these perceived deficiencies with racially pure, authoritative, and nationalist alternatives. They believed that Western societies were fundamentally weak and decadent, vulnerable to internal disintegration and external threats, and therefore, needed to be replaced or radically transformed by their ideological visions rooted in racial superiority, militarism, and cultural revival. These critiques formed the ideological backbone of their policies and actions, leading to the aggressive expansionism and brutal regimes that characterized the Axis Powers during World War II.

References

• Bulloch, J. M. (1952). Hitler and the Doctrine of National Socialism. Oxford University Press.
• Burleigh, M., & Wippermann, W. (1991). The Racial State: Germany 1933-1945. Cambridge University Press.
• Evans, R. J. (2003). The Coming of the Third Reich. Penguin Books.
• Kershaw, I. (1998). Hitler: A Biography. W.W. Norton & Company.
• Levi, S. (1998). The Cultural Roots of National Socialism. HarperCollins.
• Paxton, R. O. (2004). Atomic Americans: How They See Us Now. Vintage Books.
• Welch, D. (2010). The Third Reich: Politics and Propaganda. Routledge.