Do I count as a Left Communist?

[Registered User]

Sure,I'm a Trotskyist,but I also believe in the communal ownership of property, gift economy,and a council-based society.I'm not sure if I'm a Trotskyist who is influenced by Left Communism,or the other way around.Sorry if I've made myself look stupid,but I'm just curious

[Lanky Wanker]

I'm not educated enough on all these cool kid tendencies to answer this, but does it really matter what -ist you are?

[Revolution starts with U]

As said above me. Why not just be a "commun-ist?"

[ernie2]

One of the defining characteristics is internationalism. For example, supporting neither side in the Iraq war, nor the so-called resistance. This feature was clearly marked in response to World War 2 were the Left Communist defended revolutionary internationalism. Would you say you support this position

[Ocean Seal]

Left-Communist is a very vague idea. Why not just be a you-ist or a person who uses the Marxist analysis and doesn't allow it to become dogma.

[Tim Cornelis]

Every Trotskyist believes in what you describe above, but with a preceding transient state.

[Blake's Baby]

Left-Communist is a very vague idea. Why not just be a you-ist or a person who uses the Marxist analysis and doesn't allow it to become dogma.

No, us Left Communists are pretty sure we know what it is. But certainly not allowing Marxism to become a dogma is a good idea.

@ the OP... as has already been pointed out, most Trotskyists would say they agree with your definition I think. So would a good many Anarchists. And Council Communists.

Good places to start teasing out the differences, if that is what you want to do:
national liberation;
nature of the transitional society (if there is one);
role of the party/organisation of revolutionaries;
and, as ernie says, position on WWII and anti-fascism.

Some detail on what your views are on a few of those will help you to hone in on what tendencies your views correspond to - if, as I say, you want to do that.

[Drosophila]

Don't attach a particular "ism" to yourself, since you are going to be constantly learning new things that may change your perception. You may even end up like the people who subscribe to the "conservative vs liberal" nonsense in the USA.

[ernie2]

RedBrother Trotskyists do not agree with the communist left on the question of internationalism. Faced with the second world war the international trotskyist movement went through a crisis, in which only a very small minority defended internationalism: Natalia Trotsky, Munis, the Fortrest-Johnson tendency, the RKD and some more I have forgotten.
In more recent times we, the ICC along with other Left Communist groups, have faced, hostility, threats of violence, ridicule and even been denounced as police agents by various trotskyist organisations for our defense of internationalism faced with the irish question, the iraq-iran war, the first Gulf War etc. The Trotskyists always defend the lesser evil.

[ernie2]

dan75 One day I will definitely end up dead (no doubt about that) but that does not mean I do not do anything seeing I am going to die. Communist politics is not about "youism" but seeking to give the best of your abilities to the proletarian cause. Part of this process is deciding what are the defining interests of that cause and seeking to defend: particularly against those who claim to defend them but use these claims to undermine these interests. For example, the Trotskyists defense of national liberation, the trade unions and the idea that being exploited by the state is better than being exploited by a private employer. This is not a matter of faith but historical investigation and proof in practice. For me the Communist left throughout its history has proved that it is the main defender of the proletarian cause. You do not have to agree and you probably don't

[Drosophila]

dan75 One day I will definitely end up dead (no doubt about that) but that does not mean I do not do anything seeing I am going to die. Communist politics is not about "youism" but seeking to give the best of your abilities to the proletarian cause. Part of this process is deciding what are the defining interests of that cause and seeking to defend: particularly against those who claim to defend them but use these claims to undermine these interests. For example, the Trotskyists defense of national liberation, the trade unions and the idea that being exploited by the state is better than being exploited by a private employer. This is not a matter of faith but historical investigation and proof in practice. For me the Communist left throughout its history has proved that it is the main defender of the proletarian cause. You do not have to agree and you probably don't

There are people who will attach an "ism" to themselves, then will ignore truths based on the doctrine of their "ism."

[Rafiq]

Oh man. I'm sorry, this thread ruins theory. Like, I can't click on theory without this thread draining away the whole section. It's so irratating just to look at another one of these "Do I count as x"? "Do you think I am x tendency?" "what is my opinion?" "Hey RevLeft can you give me a framework that thinks for me? This thinking on my own buisness is too hard" ETC. ETC. ETC.

Sorry if I seem pissed off but Jesus christ these threads are dumb. Look, man, you're not a Left Communist. OKAY? And don't change your fkn views just because you want to be one or identify with one. Change them based on what you think correlates with reality best. Or is consistent with Marxism or Anarchism or whatever the fuck you want to study.

someone please trash this.

[ernie2]

Rafiq, the comrade was only asking a question. There a lot of comrades at the moment who are posing questions about what tradition "best correlates with reality": no bad thing in my opinion. If they cannot come to this forum and ask questions (even if you think it is a stupid question) what is the point of the forum: if it is only for those who agree to discuss with each other?