REVOLUTIONARY MESSIANISM AND THE PROBLEM OF THE GENESIS OF AMERICAN NEOCONSERVATISM
The article examines political views and socio-political activities of the famous American Marxist, one of the predecessors of neoconservatism, S. Hook. The author shows that the worldview of S. Hook was formed in the 1930s, in the conditions of the growing crisis of capitalism and the growing popularity of the USSR among American intellectuals. Originally S. Hook, like many left-wing US figures, sympathized with the USSR. However, the Stalinist repressions, the rapprochement of the USSR and Germany in the 1930s. led to a reassessment of Hook's views on "real socialism." Already in the 1930s, S. Hook departed from orthodox Marxism. Relying on J. Dewey's "instrumental pragmatism," he gave evolutionary, ethical interpretation to Marxism, which led him to the concept of "democratic socialism" based on the priority of the individual and freedom. Most fully it is set forth in the book by S. Hook "Marx and Marxists". The concept of "democratic socialism" is related to S. Hook with Eurocommunism, which was formed in Italy and Spain. These ideas were perceived in the USSR during the period of "perestroika" to dismantle the communist system. "Democratic socialism" and anti-communism are two important aspects of Hook's worldview, the development of which led him to liberal democracy, the political ideal of modern neoconservatism. In his work S. Hook had the credo of a convinced anti-communist, which was clearly manifested both in the late 1940s and during the reign of Reagan.