Why Freedom Lovers Support Authoritarian Regimes: Corruption Is the Key

When someone claims to be an advocate of freedom, it doesn’t necessarily mean they advocate freedom for everyone. This is the impression one gets from those self-styled libertarians and anarchists who demonstrate unabashed support for authoritarian or straightforward totalitarian regimes.

Thus, a meme term has emerged: “Kremlintarians,” referring to self-professed libertarians who endorse the Kremlin’s policies and help spread its malicious propaganda. The same individuals often exhibit sympathy for Communist China, North Korea, and other authoritarian governments, while the most impudent mavericks may even glorify Hitler.

There are several reasons for such behavior, but one, in my view, is the most pertinent, even if not the most obvious. However, let’s start with the more evident ones.

1. Following the crowd/leaders

Regardless of how independent these freedom lovers pretend to be, most of them, like everyone else, prefer ready-made opinions from various influencers and thought leaders. This is a convenient way for anyone with a big enough budget to seed any group with ideas that contradict its original logic.

2. Anti-American sentiments

On the one hand, there are left-wing anarchists who view America as the ultimate embodiment of capitalism and, therefore, evil. On the other hand, there are libertarians and anarcho-capitalists who believe America is too leftist due to its welfare programs (and then come all the other right-wing clichés such as the wokeness boogeyman to back up the case).

For both camps, America is not free enough. Hence, by a perverted logic, they support everything anti-American, including the Russian and Chinese governments, even if it would seem that, if a country is free but not free enough — and many of these people live in the United States and can freely express their opinions and bash their government, which is hardly possible in Russia or China — it makes more sense to demand more freedom rather than idolize totalitarian regimes.

3. Perceiving authoritarian leaders as strong and independent

For many a libertarian and anarchist a strong and independent personality is the ideal they strive for. And some of them perceive authoritarian leaders, who can do whatever they want and defy the international agenda, as the ultimate manifestation of this ideal. Alas, these admirers will never run a totalitarian state themselves, and if they were to live in one, they wouldn’t enjoy the same freedom and independence as those leaders.

4. The Snowden effect

After the whistleblower Edward Snowden, who had spoken up against global surveillance and state control, sought refuge in Russia, this increased the country’s prestige among those righteously outraged by what was revealed in his disclosures. However, they ignore the fact that he chose Russia — and was provided shelter there — not because it protects freedom and is a libertarian paradise, but simply because it’s anti-American.

5. Corruption

Finally, this is what I believe is a significant but largely overlooked factor. Observing those who actually walk the walk and emigrate from the United States or other democratic countries, one can notice that they rarely choose North Korea or China, and Russia hasn’t been very attractive in recent years either.

One popular destination seems to be Latin America. Why? Although this region is known for its history of authoritarianism, today most countries there are significantly freer than Russia or China. What makes them attractive for some self-professed liberty advocates — and what they share with the aforementioned authoritarian states — is corruption.

For many a financially minded libertarian and anarcho-capitalist, money is the key to freedom, and if you can use money to remove impediments and restrictions, including legal ones, then you are truly free.

Authoritarian states are always corrupt, but in countries like North Korea, China, Russia, or Belarus there are more political and other risks, so such people prefer to admire them from a distance and either choose corrupt but not totalitarian safe havens or confine themselves to talking the talk, defying all logic.

Freedom for all versus freedom for some

When someone says they are pro-freedom, one should ask them: freedom for all, or freedom only for themselves or those who can afford it?

Believing in everyone’s right to freedom contradicts any justification of authoritarian regimes, no matter how dissatisfied you are with your government or global policies.

Believing in freedom for the chosen ones, on the other hand, makes authoritarian regimes more relatable.

It is crucial to discern between the two.