I am happy to make space in this world for those who would prefer to live under a more authoritarian system, so long as they will make space for those of us who do not wish to live under such a system.
My concern however, is that an authoritarian system, by its nature, will not and can not make space for other systems, and must seek to either incorporate or destroy them. This is because other systems imply dissenting opinion and the possibility of choice, which are the antithesis of an authoritarian system, and therefore are a threat to it. Further, an authoritarian system seems generally to be the result of those who have, as Will Durant said, a “lust for power”, and who therefore will continually seek greater power, without limit or purpose.
It is this concern that an authoritarian system must seek to destroy all other systems (and any who dare dissent) which drives the countering thought that therefore an authoritarian system must always be fought by those outside it (that is, since they will inevitably seek to destroy you, they are the enemy of any who have differing beliefs). This logic seems valid, if the authoritarian system will seek to destroy all others. If however, an authoritarian system can learn to live within its own sphere while allowing for the existence of others, it does not have to follow that is the enemy of all diverse from it. Again, I (and I believe most others), recognize the legitimate right of those who wish to live under an authoritarian system to do so, so long as they reciprocate and allow others their legitimate rights to live under separate systems.
To me, the challenge seems to be this: how can a system seemingly lead by those who have a lust for power (those who are so obsessed with power that they will kill, destroy, maim, and enslave in order to ensure that they are in charge) ever place limits on itself? How can we who are outside their system ever have confidence that they will respect those limits?
Unfortunately, the most obvious conclusion is that those who have a lust for power will only be restrained by power, and that therefore the only deterrent to an authoritarian system is power. Thus, those who are outside the system must them seek to gain power so that they can be able to resist the authoritarian power (and in so doing, risk becoming the evil they seek to fight). Perhaps (and hopefully) there are other ways (though it seems likely that some element of force must always be used a check against authoritarianism).
Perhaps some of the ways can be found from the lessons of the Bible (even if you are not religious, I would suggest that a book must hold some value to have survived for thousands of years, and that perhaps some of this wisdom is still applicable). To paraphrase: Do unto to others as you would have done to yourself. If we would like to have space and freedom to live our lives as we see fit, even if others find it incorrect, than we must make space for others to do the same. Or perhaps “the meek shall inherit the earth” has something to offer, a suggestion perhaps that rather seeking power to fight power, that we don’t get caught up in that race, and instead pursue what we believe to be the good works of our life. Or perhaps another is the advice “whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also”, and though this is one I struggle with myself, there are times I find it compelling.
I, like many others of this time, am concerned that the current quest of those who seek a global and total authoritarian system will lead to strife and destruction, and that this mindless pursuit of power can only lead to folly. Perhaps this is needless fear, and therefore to be rejected, but it can be hard to know where to balance between irrational fear and reasonable prudence. Perhaps more than fear against such a system is positive belief that we can do better, that our society has already moved past the point where we believe that certain select people could be gods on earth, and instead allow ourselves to recognize the value of uncertainty, humanity, diversity, and opportunity, and to move towards those in positive manner.