Mencius Moldbug the Third Arrival

In this essay, we explore the ideas of Mencius Moldbug, a prominent figure in Neoreactionary thought. We examine how modern communication systems, political fragmentation, and the collapse of organic community institutions are reshaping society. These transformations pave the way for the rise of authoritarian figures – a phenomenon Moldbug predicted. 

We call it the ‘Third Arrival’ as this is the third part of a series. The first article discusses the rise of the ‘new monarch’ as part of the advent of Caesarism; the second treatise explores the relationship between the Neoreaction and post-progressivism. By considering the changing nature of morality, leftist political shifts, and the impact of digitalized communication, we aim to understand why the longing for a Caesar figure grows stronger in our era.

1. Old and New Moral Orders: From Embedded to Hyper-Morality

In earlier times, morality was rooted in the fabric of everyday life, shaped by communal interactions and shared cultural practices. Individuals were embedded within their communities, and local institutions like churches, guilds, and labor unions served as mediators of moral and social values.

Today, this is no longer the case. The modern individual has become an atomized consumer, living in relative isolation—watching streaming services, ordering food from delivery apps, and interacting only minimally with the outside world. Yet, this atomized existence is punctuated by grand, often overwhelming moral narratives. The individual is bombarded with global crises: emaciated children in the Third World, looming climate disasters, and endangered species teetering on the edge of extinction. These hyper-moral imperatives weigh heavily on the individual, despite the disconnect from any practical ability to influence them.

The paradox is stark: while the individual’s daily life is increasingly self-centered, the moral demands placed upon them are increasingly altruistic and utopian. This creates a sense of guilt that can be easily exploited by ideological forces, particularly Cultural Marxism, which leverages moral narratives to advance political agendas.

2. The Abandonment of Solidarity: From Worker to Climate Politics

This moral shift is mirrored by a corresponding change in leftist politics. Traditionally, the left’s appeal was grounded in solidarity—rooted in the local community, the workplace, and shared cultural values. Workers would contribute to the welfare of their neighbors, supported by a sense of mutual trust and shared risk, which emerged from centuries of Christian morality, medieval guild cooperation, and Germanic traditions.

But this foundation has crumbled. As cosmopolitan cities and mass society rise, the soil from which this solidarity grew has been replaced by a fragmented, anonymous, and digital infrastructure. The left no longer appeals to neighborly solidarity or shared economic interests. Instead, it has adopted a politics of fear, using narratives of climate catastrophe to justify expensive and large-scale social engineering projects. This process explains why leftists have abandoned the working classes and – instead – now team up with ‘woke washed’ multinationals that receive government subsidies for large scale ‘green energy’ projects.

The abandonment of traditional worker solidarity is due to the collapse of the very institutions that once fostered it. Workers today are no longer bound by shared interests or homogeneity; they come from diverse backgrounds, often working temporary jobs in fragmented industries. The solidarity that once united them has been replaced by a transient and rootless workforce, making it impossible to appeal to the collective consciousness of the working class as it once existed.

Even if the left wanted to, it is impossible to organize worker solidarity in the current landscape of West-Europe. It is due to cultural fragmentation and too much variety in individual and highly flexible worker contracts. The power to organize focus is now indeed with the multinationals. Hence, the left has little choice but to woke-wash that cart, put rainbow flags on it and push it consequently; they now regard their support for the working classes as a burden from the past. As Christopher Lasch observed in The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy – the working classes often show surprisingly conservative instincts that leftists choose to portray as ‘xenophobic’.

3. The Role of Technology: The Digitalization of Communication

This cultural fragmentation has been further exacerbated by the digitalization of communication. Information is no longer spread through the natural ecosystems of local bars, churches, or town meetings. Instead, it is mediated through vast digital networks controlled by Big Tech companies, social media platforms, and algorithm-driven content filters.

In the past, an individual might hear a rumor at church and then discuss it over drinks with friends, slowly forming their own interpretation of the event. Today, however, that same information is fed to the individual instantaneously through digital platforms, curated by influencers, AI algorithms, and corporate interests. Rather than being passive recipients, individuals are drawn into political and ideological movements, often without time for reflection. Information is presented not neutrally but with a deliberate intention to provoke emotional or political responses.

Examples of this new mode of communication are easy to find. The viral spread of videos like the Kony 2012 campaign or controversies surrounding athletes like a hermaphrodite boxer at the Olympics showcase how digital platforms drive public discourse. These controversies gain disproportionate attention because digital structures are designed to amplify content that triggers emotional engagement. In this environment, individuals cease to be reflective agents and instead become mere nodes in a collective nerve system, constantly transmitting information without critical thought.

4. The Rise of the New Caesar: Longing for Authority in a Fragmented World

Mencius Moldbug’s critique of democracy rests on the inefficiency of modern governance, and he predicts that this dysfunction will lead to the rise of a new Caesar – an authoritarian figure who will restore order amidst the chaos. In today’s world, the fragmentation of communities and the collapse of local institutions leave individuals yearning for coherence and purpose. The atomized citizen, disconnected from organic social cohesion, increasingly looks for a leader who can impose order from above.

Populist leaders, like those we see emerging around the world, are a symptom of this desire for strong authority. These figures can bypass traditional social structures and appeal directly to the masses through the digital platforms that now mediate public life. The political landscape, shaped by fragmented communication networks, allows such leaders to wield influence over populations that are no longer anchored by local or cultural ties.

In essence, the influencers and content creators who dominate online spaces are already acting as mini-Caesars, shaping public opinion and influencing behavior. It is only a matter of time before this phenomenon moves from the digital realm into the offline political sphere.

The establishment engages with this phenomenon by imposing a tight control over the media – the recent arrest of the Telegram-founder Pavel Durov is a striking example. It has become a matter of time before Western governments become totalitarian regimes. Alternatively, a ‘populist’ leader will gain control of the semi-totalitarian digital infrastructure that the current elites are building. The ‘populist’ leader then becomes the Caesar.

5. The Bureaucratic System: Ineptitude and Fragmentation

As Moldbug notes, the inefficiency of modern democracy is partly due to the nature of power within it. In today’s political system, no single individual is accountable for decisions. Power is collectivized, with layers of committees and bureaucrats who make decisions without being held responsible for their outcomes. This creates a system where everyone is both a puppet and a puppeteer, with no clear lines of accountability.

How does one progress in the chain? How does one climb up from one committee to a more influential board? Most often by first joining the municipal council, then being recommended for a higher position through a committee of local bosses. Then some more committees, and finally by being liked in the committee that draws up a list of names for candidates to be elected in national parliament. The soul crushing nature of this system is that its selection is based upon evidenced submissiveness and licking skills, on acceptability for mediocrity and none of it has anything to do with competence. This makes the elites less and less capable to properly fulfill their duties. But the opposition has no idea who or what to target as formally “the people are in power” – as such its machinations are ineffectual.

Alexis de Tocqueville, in his observations on democracy, noted that aristocracies allowed space for young, ambitious individuals to rise to power. In contrast, modern democracies crush innovation through layers of pointless committee work. The path to power is not through competence but through submission to mediocrity – a process that Moldbug argues weakens the state and sets the stage for a new, stronger figure to take control.

Conclusion: The Coming of Caesar

The rise of the new Caesar is not just inevitable – it is desirable. As our world becomes increasingly fragmented, as individuals become isolated and disconnected from organic social structures, and as bureaucratic inefficiency grinds progress to a halt, the need for strong leadership grows ever more urgent. The atomized citizen, overwhelmed by moral demands and disillusioned with democracy, will turn to a Caesar figure who can impose order and restore a coherent vision of society.

The digital age, with its instant communication and ideological echo chambers, is the fertile ground from which this new Caesar will emerge. Whether we welcome him as a necessary force of order, an agent of hope that liberates us from the bureaucratic hell that governs our existence, or fear him as a potential tyrant, one thing is clear: the era of democracy, as we know it, is coming to an end.

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