4 ms·

Many left ultras (broadly defined, including Trotskyites, leftcoms, and radlibs alike) have somehow adopted the position that only groups who identify with thei

Many left ultras (broadly defined, including Trotskyites, leftcoms, and radlibs alike) have somehow adopted the position that only groups who identify with their cultural agenda qualify as “left”, which is frankly a perversion of the left-right descriptor. It’s why the whole left-right thing should be abandoned, as the waters are hopelessly muddied. Somehow you now have “radical” neoliberals (lol) and leftcoms both claiming the mantle of leftism while simultaneously casting nearly the ENTIRE HISTORY of Marxism as “rightist”. Like how the fuck is Stalin a rightist? Yet this isn’t an uncommon position in the internet discourse. If you disagree, you are a “tankie” even if you aren’t a Marxist, but are simply fucking educated and understand the history of left economics and politics.

pocksuppet 1mo ago
... isn't that exactly what you're doing? As for "how is Stalin a rightist", how isn't he? Looking at his Wikipedia bio he seems basically indistinguishable from Hitler, but he called it a different word.
- iamnothere 1mo ago
  No, I am falling back on the entire body of left scholarship with the exception of the French Theory school and the non-DSA New Left, who have hijacked the “left” term and refuse to acknowledge its history. The DSA, an actually serious left-wing group, acknowledges the broad spectrum of left movements and does not attempt to gatekeep. I would say that ultras should learn from them, but ultras are part of a religion, not a political movement—they are not willing to tolerate dissent. (Also, the poor state of modern leftism is likely a result of well-documented intelligence and law enforcement interference in left movements. Since the 1960s they have been heavily involved in promoting the “cultural” left over the economic left. This would explain the emergence of the with-us-or-against-us tendency among ultras, it’s a great tool to divide and conquer.)

pocksuppet 1mo ago

... isn't that exactly what you're doing? As for "how is Stalin a rightist", how isn't he? Looking at his Wikipedia bio he seems basically indistinguishable from Hitler, but he called it a different word.

iamnothere 1mo ago
No, I am falling back on the entire body of left scholarship with the exception of the French Theory school and the non-DSA New Left, who have hijacked the “left” term and refuse to acknowledge its history. The DSA, an actually serious left-wing group, acknowledges the broad spectrum of left movements and does not attempt to gatekeep. I would say that ultras should learn from them, but ultras are part of a religion, not a political movement—they are not willing to tolerate dissent. (Also, the poor state of modern leftism is likely a result of well-documented intelligence and law enforcement interference in left movements. Since the 1960s they have been heavily involved in promoting the “cultural” left over the economic left. This would explain the emergence of the with-us-or-against-us tendency among ultras, it’s a great tool to divide and conquer.)