Introduction
Pete Hegseth, an American commentator and intellectual, proposes a vision of an “American Crusade” – a radical mobilization for the defense of freedom and a return to the founding ideals of the USA. This is not merely a rhetorical figure, but a diagnosis of an existential clash with “leftism,” which Hegseth perceives as a structural threat to the West. This article analyzes this concept, pointing to its historical roots, mobilization mechanisms, and Polish analogies that allow for a better understanding of the global dispute over national identity and sovereignty.
The American Crusade: A Fight for the Foundations of the West
In Hegseth’s view, the crusade is a “political liturgy of mobilization,” rejecting the hollow language of think-tanks in favor of a fight for Americanism. The foundation of this vision is natural law and the conviction that rights are God-given, with the state serving only as their guardian. Hegseth draws on the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt and the figure of the “one-hundred-percent American,” who recognizes no dual loyalties. In this logic, there is no room for “squishes” (miękiszony) – right-wing politicians who, for the sake of appearances, abandon the fight for values.
The central figure of this revival is Donald Trump, described as the “Crusader in Chief.” His 2016 victory was a rebellion against the elites, whom Hegseth accuses of elitism and imposing a “tyranny with manners,” otherwise known as political correctness. Trump became a catalyst for those who believe that only an uncompromising leader can stop the dismantling of the Republic and restore the primacy of the individual over the collective.
Hegseth Strikes at Progressive “Isms”
Hegseth employs a unique “algebra of memes” to unmask modern ideologies. He defines multiculturalism as a doctrine that shatters national unity, and environmentalism as the secularization of the apocalypse, where the climate struggle serves to legitimize total control over the citizen. Meanwhile, globalism is, for him, the antithesis of healthy globalization – a system of impersonal institutions stripping national communities of their sovereignty. Against this backdrop, the border wall becomes a physical symbol of sovereignty and a nation's right to decide its own territory.
A vital piece of this puzzle is Israel, viewed as a bastion of the West and proof that a free civilization can survive in an extremely hostile environment. The struggle for identity also moves to the field of education and culture. The slogan “give the children back to their parents” is a call to reclaim schools from the hands of genderism and socialism ideologues, who seek to weaken the work ethos and traditional masculine virtues, such as agency and defense, through social engineering.
Adapting the Crusade: American Patterns in Poland
American MAGA finds deep analogies in the Polish historical experience. The Battle of Vienna in 1683 and the “Solidarity” movement are Polish chapters of the same story about the power of culture and faith in politics. Jan III Sobieski and John Paul II showed that religion can elevate politics from the level of pragmatics to the level of meaning. Poland, like the USA, currently faces “unanchored globalism” and imported ideological disputes, making Hegseth’s rhetoric extremely relevant on the Vistula.
However, an effective adaptation of the crusade to Polish conditions requires accounting for cultural differences. A Pole, unlike an American, is distrustful of triumphalism and values a “wise edge.” The Polish version of this surge should therefore combine a victorious tone with responsibility, promoting institutional sovereignty and schools free from ideology. Instead of copying American anger, it should be distilled into a program based on the principle: “freedom that does not take away responsibility, but multiplies it.”
Summary
Pete Hegseth’s vision is a call to return to the foundations of Western civilization by rejecting the ideological accretions of recent decades. Although his rhetoric can be sharp and simplified, it accurately diagnoses the crisis of loyalty and identity in a world dominated by global elites. For Poland, the lesson from this “crusade” is clear: defending values requires not only courage in the political sphere but, above all, a rooting in culture and faith, which constitute the ultimate authority of a free nation.
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