How do leftists combat the monsters that spring up as a result of capitalism?

[RadioRaheem84]

We can theorize all we want about how criminal organizations spring forth from the limits capitalism places on people. But what could leftists and workers do to protect themselves against the literal terrors that form as a result of social and economic inequality?

I am talking about organized crime, street gangs, drug cartels, religious zealot groups, right wing militia terrorist grops, etc.

For instance what do leftists, workers do in the situation against the cartels in Mexico? It seems like the only viable force is the Mexican government. What do workers do there?

Same with the situation where religious Islamic zealots have run a country amok and the only viable force against them is the current army in power.

Can solidarity really defeat powers such as this?

[d3crypt]

I guess we have to kill them...

[Os Cangaceiros]

Such groups are often used as tools of the state for various purposes, including geopolitical gain, financial gain, etc.

Examples include the Mexican trafficking orgs and their numerous tie-ins with the Mexican government, organized crime in Italy, Japan & Russia, and the Taliban's relationship with the Pakistani ISI, etc. So to me it doesn't make much sense to speak of the situation as if these are all completely independent non-state actors vs states

[InvalidPacket]

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[AnSyn Blackflag]

The way I see it is that criminal organizations and cartels have there own form of a state and a very capitalist one at that. They bully the local populace with manpower, wealth, and firearms to gain a profit and control.
To this end I see them as someone a leftist should oppose as strongly as an official government. This can be done through the same means, preferably with non violence.
The big difference is that they are overtly more dangerous and have less reserves about drawing arms on those of us who would reject their influence.
So tread carefully and if you can avoid them until you have a means to readily stand up to them.
I have been told before that criminal gangs and cartels are opponents of the government and therefore our allies. I highly disagree with this stance for the reason mentioned above.

[human strike]

Same way we combat the rest of capital; tool up and communise.

[RadioRaheem84]

I have been told before that criminal gangs and cartels are opponents of the government and therefore our allies. I highly disagree with this stance for the reason mentioned above.


Yes there are some that apologize for these elements and try to paint them as part of the lumpen, but these groups have far outgrown that category. They're non-legitimate capitalist enterprises that use violence as means to enforce transactions since they're not recognized by the State.

Leftists in the US never allied with them per se, but it's just that the US government was so hostile toward leftist movements, organizations and unions that many of these groups sought financing and support from underworld groups. Essentially because the US lacks a strong public component that aids left movements, there were some organizations that blurred the line between them and the underworld.

[BIXX]

We fight them. Simple as that. The same way we deal with fascists. The same way we deal with capitalists. Same way we deal with the bourgeois state. I would like to say I felt like it was possible to be peaceful in fighting them, but I doubt that will work. We should take an aggressive stance on all these matters.

Everyone asks how we fight or oppose this or that. I think the only question should be "do we oppose this and why?" After that we do everything in our power.

[BIXX]

As a side note, I fail to see why people are always looking for a universal "leftist" or "marxist" or "anarchist" etc. answer. As long as it doesn't violate any of the "rules" (like for anarchists, having one person able to command all the others would be unacceptable) of these groups I don't think it matters how it is done, as long as it is effective.