- The term ‘useful idiots’ describes individuals who unknowingly support causes that contradict their own beliefs, originally used to criticize Western sympathizers of Soviet communism.
- The phenomenon has become apparent in India, where secular intellectuals of Hindu heritage inadvertently support regressive ideologies that conflict with their own cultural roots.
- The concept extends beyond India, with Western journalists and intellectuals historically supporting oppressive regimes, misleading public perception about these governments.
- ‘Useful idiots,’ as a rule, often lack deep knowledge of the causes they support, making them susceptible to manipulation by charismatic leaders or persuasive propaganda.
- The article highlights the negative impact of these actions, where well-intentioned support is twisted into tools for manipulative agendas, urging the need for critical thinking and skepticism to avoid such exploitation.
Over the past decade, as India’s cultural resurgence has gained momentum…the phenomenon of ‘useful idiocy’ has become strikingly evident, especially among the so-called ‘secular’ intellectuals of Hindu heritage.
The term ‘useful idiots’ refers to individuals who often cluelessly champion or propagate a cause or political agenda that ultimately betrays their interests or beliefs. The term was coined as a Cold War-era slam against Western sympathizers of Soviet communism, who were unwittingly aiding a regime that was opposed to their own democratic and liberal values. Though such individuals may genuinely believe they are doing good, in reality, their actions align with the interests of those who manipulate them. Over time, the label has been used more broadly to describe anyone who serves a cause without realizing its true intentions.
Over the past decade, as India’s cultural resurgence has gained momentum—particularly since the rise of a Hindutva-centric socio-political landscape—the phenomenon of ‘useful idiocy’ has become strikingly evident, especially among the so-called ‘secular’ intellectuals of Hindu heritage. Ironically, those of us of Muslim heritage who stand for reform in regressive Islamic practices like triple talaq, FGM, burqa, etc., often face criticism from these left-leaning Hindus, accusing us of ‘Islamophobia’ – a term coined by the Muslim Brotherhood to shut down criticism and debate.
Global Brotherhood of the Misguided
The phenomenon of the “useful idiot” is not limited to intellectuals of Indian or Hindu heritage. Many Western journalists, travelers, and intellectuals have zealously endorsed oppressive regimes and dictators, leading politicians and the public to mistakenly view these oppressive governments as utopian rather than akin to the horrors symbolized by Bergen-Belsen, a WWII concentration camp emblematic of extreme suffering and inhumanity.
Walter Duranty, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, shilled for Stalin’s show trials and denied the Ukrainian famine[1]. So did George Bernard Shaw, in 1932, brushing off reports of a famine in the USSR as ‘nonsense’[2], even as millions were starving.
Certain Western leftists did not shy away from heaping praise on Hugo Chavez’s repressive regime in Venezuela as a ‘progressive populist government that says no to neo-liberalism,’[3] even as the country was experiencing severe economic and humanitarian crises, as did the supporters of Ho Chi Minh, Mao Zedong, and Pol Pot, naively praising the respective regimes of the above as ‘progressive’ while genocides were going on, on a massive scale.
The list of notable modern-day dupes includes figures like former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who cozied up to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un[4], blatantly ignoring the regime’s atrocious human rights record. Then there’s Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, who infamously spread sensitive information[5] without proper context. His actions have been praised and criticized, but some see him as a pawn in larger, darker geopolitical schemes. Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, is another example of this ilk for leaking classified documents revealing extensive government surveillance programs[6].
When Rihanna[7], Mia Khalifa[8], and John Cusack[9] raise their voices or tweet in favor of the orchestrated farmers’ protests or anti-CAA Shaheen Bagh protests in India, they are de facto guilty of lending intellectual cover to tyranny.
Many recipients of the Magsaysay and Pulitzer Prizes consistently adopt an anti-India stance, actively working to portray India in a negative light, raising suspicion about potential funding from sources like the Soros-funded Open Society[10], hell-bent on destabilizing the Indian subcontinent through its color revolutions and agenda activists. These recipients habitually close ranks when one of them is charged with high crimes, as is the case with Umar Khalid, who garners ardent support from even the far-right Islamists despite being a self-professed atheist[11].
‘Useful Infidels’: Hindu Supporter of Radical Islam
Useful idiots, as a class, often lack a good understanding of the cause they support, focusing instead on idealized or superficial aspects. Their naivete makes them easy targets for charismatic leaders and persuasive propaganda.
Useful idiots, as a class, often lack a good understanding of the cause they support, focusing instead on idealized or superficial aspects. Their naivete makes them easy targets for charismatic leaders and persuasive propaganda. Ironically, they sometimes occupy positions of influence or have access to platforms that can amplify the cause despite their lack of deep knowledge. An example would be historians like Romila Thapar[12] from the ‘Irfan Habib School of History,’ which focused on whitewashing the Islamic invasion and conquest of India by the Timurid, Turkic-Mongols (Mughals).
This continued the colonization of Indians after independence in 1947, with the new generation Hindus deracinated from their culture and roots and the descendants of converted Muslims getting further incorporated into the unfinished business of the Partition for Muslim majority states and regions like Kashmir, Hyderabad, Aligarh, and left-bastion campuses. Useful idiots of Hindu heritage with tenures in these campuses solidified the colonial narrative, and as the Red-Green Alliance, the solidarity of the leftist cabal with Islamists started developing, the dupes started intellectualizing terrorism and violation of the individual rights of Muslim women and men.
Sadly, this useful idiocy has gone viral in today’s society, infecting everything from political movements to social and cultural causes that twist well-meaning support into tools for manipulation. In the digital age, this dangerous naivete has been weaponized, often used to target those who champion social and cultural issues detrimental to their own demographic or economic interests.
In the context of political discourse in India, as I demonstrated above, the term is now being used to describe left-leaning, liberal individuals who dissent from the growing clamor of right-leaning individuals who are not politically correct about the one-sided secularism and Muslim appeasement practiced blatantly by political parties. We, reformist Muslims, term them ‘useful idiots’ because we see their intentions and naivete, which is worthy of ridicule. After all, their actions render more Muslims victims of honor, bigotry, and blasphemy than any other community.
Richard Landes, Prof of History at Boston University, in his work “From Useful Idiot to Useful Infidel: Meditations on the Folly of 21st-century intellectuals“[13], uses the term to describe liberal intellectuals, who, despite enjoying freedom and prosperity, undermine both by giving moral and material support to revolutionary movements hostile to ‘bourgeois’ values.
Today, some intellectuals sacrifice their integrity as intellectuals, not for a professionally progressive egalitarian movement but to protect radical Islam, one of the most regressive and authoritarian movements imaginable, and that is a big impediment to the work of reformists of Muslim heritage.
Landes extends this notion to what he calls “useful infidels” to describe intellectuals who, despite enjoying freedom and prosperity, sabotage both by giving moral and material support to revolutionary movements hostile to “bourgeois” values. He argues that these individuals engage in excessive self-criticism, a vulnerability that Islamists exploit to blame the West for the darker sides of modernity. He further suggests that this results in a perversion of human rights discourse and fosters a twisted union of pre-modern sadism with post-modern masochism.
Another term that is often used for such individuals is ‘simpletons,’ a label once purportedly used by Lenin to describe his political adversaries. These simpletons do not recognize the reality of terror and deceive the general population—workers and peasants—by aligning themselves with those who perpetuate terror and contribute to oppression.
Today, some intellectuals sacrifice their integrity as intellectuals, not for a professionally progressive egalitarian movement but to protect radical Islam, one of the most regressive and authoritarian movements imaginable, and that is a big impediment to the work of reformists of Muslim heritage.
Gilles Kepel‘s book Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam[14] explains the evolution of Islamist movements and their changing relationship with Western democratic principles. Initially, these movements rejected Western ideas, dismissing them as ‘occidental.’ However, over time, many Islamist parties and movements began to seek recognition as Democrats and denounced repression by referencing universal Western principles of human rights. This shift suggests they toned down their earlier fervor to overhaul the Western system with their own ideologies.
However, some viewed this shift as a cyclical maneuver, similar to the tactics used by modern communist parties. These parties would occasionally use democratic language to deceive and attract supporters, particularly among the intelligentsia. This strategy was effective when the Soviet Bloc was powerful, attracting many sincere democrats who were drawn to the messianic aura of the worker’s movement.
Useful idiots often think they’re pursuing their own interests or ideologies, but in reality, they’re pawns, manipulated into spreading misinformation or supporting actions that ultimately serve someone else’s goals. They seldom grasp the full extent of their involvement in these causes or organizations. Misinformation is a key tool for exploiting these individuals; by spreading false or misleading information, entities can sway them into unwittingly supporting hidden agendas. Thus duped, they become proponents of their manipulators’ falsehoods, amplifying their reach and impact. In India, the founders, editors, and admins of the Altnews website[15] are examples of agenda activists who operate through misinformation while masquerading as fact-checkers.
Liberalism Lost: Good Intentions Gone Astray
The phenomenon of useful idiocy is the result of liberalism gone awry. Liberalism began as a well-intentioned philosophy dedicated to individual rights, equality, democracy, and economic freedom. However, modern liberalism is little more than the detritus of these core principles, with its adherents unwittingly serving as tools for deep-pocketed global influencers. They instinctively mirror the regressive manner of the far-right Islamists they defend by reducing complex political issues to the simplistic binary of ‘us vs. them,’ leading to a dismissal of nuanced discussions and criticisms.
Marxism, communism, and leftist ideology had promised to address issues such as income inequality and economic insecurity. Instead, India’s history of the past decades after independence up to the new millennium shows the glorification of poverty via mass media. At the same time, the ‘champagne socialists’[16] or, as Tarek Fateh used to call them ‘sharia Bolsheviks,’ enjoy their long, academic tenures, jet-setting lifestyles of seminars, talk circuits, and champagne activism espousing economic theories, while the ordinary lives of the marginalized and the oppressed stayed regressive and economically deprived.
Six Faces of ‘Useful Idiocy’
James Bloodworth’s article ‘Six Types of Useful Idiots‘[17] explores individuals who intentionally or unintentionally lend support to oppressive regimes or ideologies without fully understanding the consequences of their actions. Bloodworth identifies six distinct categories of “useful idiots,” each with its motivations and characteristics.
- The celebrity apologist – This category consists of celebrities or public figures who uncritically praise authoritarian regimes or leaders for their supposed achievements or virtues. They often visit these countries on sponsored trips and offer glowing endorsements, ignoring or downplaying human rights abuses and political repression. Rihanna and John Cusack are prime examples of this type in the Indian context.
- The ideological sympathizer – These individuals sympathize with extremist ideologies or movements out of ideological affinity or a desire to fight for social justice. They may romanticize revolutionary struggles or view oppressive regimes as necessary evils in the fight against Western imperialism or capitalism. Despite their professed commitment to progressive values, they overlook or excuse human rights violations committed by their favored groups. Many academics at Delhi University, JNU, Jadavpur, TISS, Ashoka, etc, fit this group as well as the left-leaning interlocutors who used to cozy up to terrorists turned politicians like Yasin Malik while being taken for atrocity tourist destinations across Kashmir Valley.
- The cultural relativist – Cultural relativists believe that all cultures are equally valid and that judging other societies by Western standards is appropriate. They argue that practices such as honor killings, female genital mutilation, or child marriage are simply manifestations of cultural diversity and should be tolerated rather than condemned. By relativizing human rights abuses, they provide cover for oppressive practices and hinder efforts to promote universal values. Western feminists in support of the hijab[18], Nike Swooshes on burkinis, etc, are examples here, even as Iranian women are getting killed and imprisoned[19] for resisting the mandatory veiling.
- The anti-American Conspiracy Theorist – This group subscribes to conspiracy theories that portray the United States as the root cause of global injustice and instability. They believe that American imperialism and interventionism are responsible for all the world’s problems and overlook the crimes committed by other regimes in their zeal to demonize the US. By scapegoating America, they absolve authoritarian regimes of accountability and perpetuate a simplistic worldview that ignores the complexities of global politics. Noam Chomsky[20], the United States’ most famous citizen, is the flag bearer of this group.
- The Corporate Shill – Corporate shills prioritize economic interests over human rights and political freedom. They may lobby on behalf of corporations or industries that benefit from business ties with repressive regimes, turning a blind eye to labor exploitation, environmental degradation, or corruption in the pursuit of profit. By facilitating economic relationships with authoritarian states, they inadvertently bolster oppressive regimes and undermine efforts to promote democratic values.
- The Contrarian – Contrarians revel in challenging mainstream narratives and dissenting from conventional wisdom. They may adopt contrarian positions for intellectual stimulation or to assert their independence from ideological conformity. However, their contrarianism often leads them to defend indefensible positions or embrace fringe ideologies in their quest to defy consensus. By amplifying extremist views or providing platforms for extremist voices, they contribute to the normalization of radicalism and undermine efforts to combat extremism. Christopher Hitchens, though a powerful advocate of free speech, was wrong about the WMDs present in Iraq, which became the basis for its invasion by the United States following 9/11.
Overall, Bloodworth’s article illuminates the diverse manifestations of useful idiocy in contemporary society and underscores the importance of critical thinking, moral clarity, and intellectual integrity in confronting oppressive regimes and extremist ideologies. By exposing the motivations and tactics of useful idiots, he encourages readers to remain vigilant against manipulation, misinformation, and moral compromise in the pursuit of justice and freedom.
Concluding Remarks
In an era dominated by advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, the challenge of maintaining intellectual integrity has never been greater. AI enhances the potential for misinformation, enabling manipulators to tailor deceptive messages that exploit personal biases. This underscores the importance of discernment and critical thinking to avoid becoming ‘useful idiots’—individuals unwittingly supporting agendas that undermine their own beliefs. To combat this, it is essential to question information, verify sources, and seek diverse perspectives. Such vigilance helps preserve the autonomy of our decision-making processes and safeguards the foundations of informed democratic discourse. As we navigate this complex landscape, staying informed and skeptical remains our best defense against manipulation.
Citations
[1] Walter Duranty: The New York Times Reporter Who Failed To Report Soviet-Triggered Famines – History (historyonthenet.com); https://www.historyonthenet.com/walter-duranty-new-york-times
[2] GEORGE BERNARD SHAW (holodomorsurvivors.ca); https://www.holodomorsurvivors.ca/Harvest%20of%20Despair/GEORGE%20BERNARD%20SHAW.html
[3] Hugo Chavez proves you can lead a progressive, popular government that says no to neo-liberalism | The Independent | The Independent; https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/hugo-chavez-proves-you-can-lead-a-progressive-popular-government-that-says-no-to-neoliberalism-8202738.html
[4] Dennis Rodman and North Korea: A brief guide to the weird, long history – The Washington Post; https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2018/06/12/a-brief-guide-to-dennis-rodmans-long-weird-history-with-north-korea/
[5] Julian Assange’s mission was to change the world – but at what cost? | CNN; https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/27/europe/julian-assange-profile-intl-cmd/index.html
[6] Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind the NSA surveillance revelations | The NSA files | The Guardian; https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance
[7] Farmers’ protest: Rihanna tweet angers Indian government (bbc.com); https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-55914858
[8] Mia Khalifa reiterates support for farmers protest amid criticism | India | Manorama English (onmanorama.com); https://www.onmanorama.com/news/india/2021/02/05/mia-khalifa-reiterates-support-for-farmers-protest-amid-criticism.html
[9] International celebrities show support for India’s protesting farmers – DW – 02/04/2021; https://www.dw.com/en/celebrities-support-indias-farmers/g-56456019
[10] George Soros – Open Society Foundations; https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/george-soros?gad_source=5
[11] India: Amnesty calls denial of bail to Muslim activist ‘big blow’ | Protests News | Al Jazeera; https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/25/india-amnesty-calls-denial-of-bail-to-muslim-activist-big-blow
[12] How Romila Thapar and her brand of historiography have dented India’s image globally – Firstpost; https://www.firstpost.com/opinion/how-romila-thapar-and-her-brand-of-historiography-have-dented-indias-image-globally-12054062.html
[13] From Useful Idiot to Useful Infidel: Meditations on the Folly of 21st Century “Intellectuals†| Augean Stables (theaugeanstables.com); https://theaugeanstables.com/2010/06/08/from-useful-idiot-to-useful-infidel-meditations-on-the-folly-of-21st-century-intellectuals/
[14] Review: [Untitled] on JSTOR; https://www.jstor.org/stable/26199556
[15] Home – Alt News; https://www.altnews.in/
[16] Champagne socialist – Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne_socialist
[17] Six types of ‘useful idiot’ – UnHerd; https://unherd.com/2018/06/six-types-useful-idiot/
[18] White Feminism Has Appropriated the Hijab Protest, Without Understanding It – Opinion – Haaretz.com; https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2022-10-06/ty-article-opinion/.premium/white-feminism-has-appropriated-the-hijab-protest-without-understanding-it/00000183-aa16-d8cc-afc7-fefebfce0000
[19] Iranian women face 10 years in jail for inappropriate dress after ‘hijab bill’ approved | CNN; https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/21/middleeast/iran-hijab-law-parliament-jail-intl-hnk/index.html
[20] The sick mind of Noam Chomsky | Salon.com; https://www.salon.com/2001/09/26/treason_2/