Breaking History Ep. 119: Coudenhove-Kalergi and the Roots of the Crusader Revival

Matt Ehret and Ghost welcome Cynthia Chung to dig into Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, the architect of Pan-Europe and an overlooked forerunner of fascism. They trace how Kalergi’s blueprint for the European Union drew from crusader ideology, Masonic symbolism, and a vision of reviving the Habsburg Empire. The conversation unpacks his ties to Mussolini, the Vatican, and Zionism, revealing how the League of Nations and Balfour Declaration carried forward a larger imperial strategy. From propaganda nudging Gen Z into crusader cosplay to Steve Bannon’s modern “gladiator schools,” the hosts expose how old Templar currents resurface in today’s geopolitics. They examine the danger of game theory traps that pit groups against one another, pushing societies toward engineered conflict and authoritarian “solutions.”

With insights into social imperialism, the Fabian roots of fascism, and the modern Pan-Europe movement’s push to break up Russia, this episode connects the past to the precarious present, urging listeners to resist empire by reclaiming sovereignty, economics, and responsibility for self-government.