Most Ideal Places

[Susurrus]

Which place do you consider a most ideal example of leftism? Past or present.

[RadioRaheem84]

At this point where right wing neoliberalism has triumphed, I would take anything that offered me free social services.

I really think that the social democratic nations of Scandanavia are preferable for me than Cuba, North Korea or Laos, which are suffering under bureaucracy, autarky and and inner corruption.

That's not saying much but anything beats being down and out in the States right now, strictly speaking about material gain.

[RedSonRising]

Historically, I think Cuba, Titoist Yugoslavia, Anarchist Spain, Autonomous Chiapas, and Sandinista Nicaragua are all admirable attempts that came close enough (given their material circumstances) to what we aim to establish, which is workers' control of production and distribution. Even the Israeli Kibbutz movement had something to offer. All of the models differ, but they each show various strengths and weaknesses which serve as important lessons. A lot of people take sides in supporting one set of models and completely dismissing the other, but I think the variety and diversity of models within non-superpower countries speak for the applicability and universal nature of socialism as an ideology and viable organization of society.

[RadioRaheem84]

Historically, I think Cuba, Titoist Yugoslavia, Anarchist Spain, Autonomous Chiapas, and Sandinista Nicaragua are all admirable attempts that came close enough (given their material circumstances) to what we aim to establish, which is workers' control of production and distribution. Even the Israeli Kibbutz movement had something to offer. All of the models differ, but they each show various strengths and weaknesses which serve as important lessons. A lot of people take sides in supporting one set of models and completely dismissing the other, but I think the variety and diversity of models within non-superpower countries speak for the applicability and universal nature of socialism as an ideology and viable organization of society.

Did the OP mean past or existing societies?

What is your opinion of Hoxha's Albania?

[tanklv]

Which place do you consider a most ideal example of leftism?

Star Trek society of films.

Reality: Probably Scandinavian countries.

I don't think there are really any examples in existence today that I would call ideal.

[CAleftist]

Since when did the revolutionary left care about "ideal" anything?

[Rafiq]

Leftism isn't a system or a withstanding state of affairs. It's simply a means of not necessarily attaining such directly, but abolishing the present state of things directly, and that of which will give birth to a more efficient mode of production, (based on historical examples and simple common sense).

It is a criticism of the current mode of production in many ways as well.

So the answer: The model place for Leftism is global capitalism. That is our battlefield, and it is the reason we exist.

[Susurrus]

Leftism isn't a system or a withstanding state of affairs. It's simply a means of not necessarily attaining such directly, but abolishing the present state of things directly, and that of which will give birth to a more efficient mode of production, (based on historical examples and simple common sense).

It is a criticism of the current mode of production in many ways as well.

So the answer: The model place for Leftism is global capitalism. That is our battlefield, and it is the reason we exist.

I was referring to places where leftism has been implemented most successfully.

[Rafiq]

Like I said previously, Leftism is a tactic. A good example was Makhno's black army, and Lenin's vanguard party (sadly failed, as the revolution did not spread to germany and was contained). A mixture of the two would be nice as well.

[Nox]

Albania under Enver Hoxha :)