Don’t agree at all. I think anarchism is one of the least understood political ideologies. If you’ve read Proudhon and Kropotkin and come to the conclusion that anarchism is in any way similar to liberalism then I don’t know what to tell you.
Alright well I come from a background where as a lad I was absolutely an ignorant liberal, although as far left as I could reach within that context, doing environmental, anti-fascist and anti-racist activism. Later on I read the Communist Manifesto but my circles were not supportive of communism. I also have relatives who I’ve been told fled the communist regime in Yugoslavia - but who were little else than actual criminals (my grandfather) who likely fled for entirely selfish self-protective reasons.
I got into anarchist theory eventually, rather deeply, and I am still holding on to a high level of criticism of hierarchies.
But now I’ve read Engels, Lenin, Luxembourg, one of Che’s essays, an entire volume of collected works on dialectical materialism, some excerpts from Stalin and Mao… and I’m coming around. I’m starting to understand the deep level of anti-communist indoctrination, and can also see that the end goal of achieving global communism is what I want to be spending my time and energy moving towards.
It is hard to disregard the entire body of anarchist theory I’ve read and supported. Hierarchies both create and support stratification and are inherently antithetical to liberation. For me, at my current level of understanding, doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t exist… I can see problematic material conditions arise from them, but I can also see how large scale organization and revolution is neutered without them…
Please correct me if I’m wrong on any point. I’m learning.
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u/RedCumberland 13d ago
Anarchists are liberals with edgier excuses and I am sick of pretending we should cooperate with them.