Assessing Curtis Yarvin

Chronicles ^ | November 2025 | Paul Gottfried

[Pelham]

"I am not a conservative. I am a radical—a radical monarchist. I believe there are no rails—and never were any. America has no manifest destiny. Her constitution was not divinely inspired. No special providence was involved in her founding, nor has she discovered any unique principle of human governance. Nor can any theory of historical determinism, whether liberal, Marxist or libertarian, explain, predict or guarantee her future—which, like all future history, is a contingent and unwritten blank page in the hands of men only."

Thus begin the self-revelations of Curtis Yarvin, radical monarchist and scorner of the American founding, in a heated exchange with Manhattan Institute Fellow Christopher Rufo during an event hosted by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI). During this exchange, we learn that Rufo’s interlocutor despises the United States, even in its original constitutional-republican form. This troublesome land was “never on the right track” and seems to have always a takeoff point for its present woke incarnation. Yarvin also vents contempt on Martin Luther King Jr., a current establishment conservative icon, and he calls for transforming this country, if possible, into some kind of feudal monarchy, with a CEO-like king.

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TOPICS: Books/Literature; Government; History; Politics
KEYWORDS: christopherrufo; curtisyarvin; gottfried; manhattaninstitute; martinlutherkingjr; mencius; moldbug; monarchist; paulgottfried; troll

[Pelham]

Yarvin used to use the sobriquet "Mencius Moldbug" and if you ran across his writing you'd remember it. Gottfried does a good job of critiquing Yarvin/Moldbug, who can be entertaining but maybe not convincing.

https://chroniclesmagazine.org/view/assessing-curtis-yarvin/

[DoodleBob]

In his blog Unqualified Reservations, which he wrote from 2007 to 2014, and in his later newsletter Gray Mirror, which he started in 2020, he argues that American democracy is a failed experiment that should be replaced by an accountable monarchy, similar to the governance structure of corporations.

Yarvin has been described as a "neo-reactionary", "neo-monarchist" and "neo-feudalist" who "sees liberalism as creating a Matrix-like totalitarian system, and who wants to replace American democracy with a sort of techno-monarchy". He has defended the institution of slavery, and has suggested that certain races may be more naturally inclined toward servitude than others. He has argued that whites have inherently higher IQs than black people,and opposes U.S. civil rights programs.

[plain talk]

Just another stupid a-hole.

[Sirius Lee]

He sounds and looks totally gay.

[ifinnegan]

“ I believe there are no rails—and never were any.”

That’s what the leftists believe - 1619 nation.

Why are you promoting this dreck?

[Flatus I. Maximus]

I’m impressed. Does this escapee from Clown World have big squeaky shoes and a big red nose to go with his Bozo hair?

[ASOC]

I’m sure the good Mr Curtis would be happy to be the first King for the US.

After two days, IF he was still alive, I see him heading South for greener pastures.

[Leaning Right]

A monarchy is only as strong as its weakest link.

Tsar Nicholas II wrecked Russia.
Kaiser William II wrecked Germany.
Etc.

As for me, I’m a committed Marxist.

[Sirius Lee]

He's a paunchy Bozo.

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The “rails”, as they were, relied on a moral and religious people (per John Adams) to be efficacious.

If a change to the people results in the rails becoming ineffectual (or worse, self-drstructive), is that not an illustration of his point that our nation’s course is a “contingent and unwritten blank page in the hands of men”?

[proust]

“I am a radical—a radical monarchist.”

Sigh, it’s retarded. “I’m an oxymoron-without the oxy.” Had my fill of “intellectual yet idiots” for one lifetime.

[rlmorel]

LOL. We can go back to what was tried and true before the American experiment. Not like THAT hasn't been tried ad nauseam with the same eventual results.

[Albion Wilde]

Love it or leave it, Yarvin.

[x]

Tack it up over your computer:

“Not everything that sounds cool on the internet is a good idea.”

[Parmy]

Who cares?

[JesusIsLord]

As I recall, we were once subject to a King. We didn't like that arrangement.

[ifinnegan]

What are you talking about.

UK has a King.

Half the EU have Kings or royalty.

And they are men.

Who do you think should be king of America? Charles?

[Pelham]

Pretty sure I already knew that. But thanks for the reminder.

[Pelham]

“Why are you promoting this dreck?”

I had noticed that your dreck ration was insufficient and wanted to help you out.

[Texas Fossil]

Back in the Mid 1980’s, while I was living in NM, I subscribed to Chronicles magazine while Thomas Flemming was the editor.

They said the were PaleoConservatives. It took 2-3 years for me to realize they were comfortable with Monarchies.

(Note. There were 2 Thomas Flemming’s. The other one was a traitor.) FACT

The magazine had a great grasp of history. But I have ZERO use for monarchies.