It is a fact that Mussolini entered the scene of world politics as an ally of the democracies, while Lenin entered it as a virtual ally of imperial Germany.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Mises points out the irony that Mussolini started as a democracy ally while Lenin allied with imperial Germany.
- In plain terms
- Mussolini and Lenin began their political careers as allies of opposite sides in world politics.
- What can you take from it?
- Historical alliances can be unexpected and shift quickly.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How much do early alliances define a leader?
- Can we judge leaders by their first choices?
Another view
Focusing on early alliances ignores how these leaders changed over time.
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