How to combat reactionary thought?

[Cosmonaut]

I have been trying to find out how to combat reactionary thought (such as religion, "where's your proof communism isnt dictators", etc.) in a Marxist, scientific manner but I don't know how (mostly because I've only been a Communist for a year). Can anyone help?:marx::hammersickle:

[Q]

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[Sabot Cat]

Hello there, and welcome to the forum. :)

I think one of the best ways to counter capitalist thought is to fully grok the content of the political and economic philosophy you're espousing, and then teach it the best you can.

However, I think a good way to shut down that particular argument is to point out that most socialist schools of thought have the goal of freeing the working class from having a ruling class dictate their lives, and that in this way, the workplace and market in aggregate is just as liberty-squelching or autocratic as any "Communist" regime past or present.

[Comrade #138672]

It also depends on who you are talking to. Combating reactionary ideologies does not just rely on good arguments. It also depends on the material interests of the person you are speaking with. If they are bourgeois, their material interests prevent them from disposing of their reactionary ideologies, since their material interests are in contradiction with the material interests of the proletariat. Revolutionary ideas are necessarily proletarian, since they tend to reflect the material interests of the proletariat.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I'd say the best starting point is not going out looking for combat, but going out to *listen* and get a handle on what's underlying reactionary thought. Are people religious or anti-communist because they're stupid or spiteful? Only in the rarest of cases! Rather, by understanding the conditions that underlay bad ideas, we can talk about those conditions. Otherwise, we end up arguing "Well, how can you prove God does/n't exist?" when we should be arguing, "Well, what is the historical origin and current role of homophobia in society?"
The problem is that many people are asking the wrong questions. To figure out what questions they should be asking, we need to hear them out, and suss out where they're coming from . . .
Then, from there, we need to study like all fucking hell.

[Rafiq]

If they're from a small business or capitalist background, there's nothing to argue about.

[Redistribute the Rep]

With an ice axe



But on a more serious note , just try to engage them in discussion, I think the important thing is to be understanding of why the person holds reactionary ideas. A lot of these people have had trouble with poverty and other things and it's not helpful to shame them or talk down to them. As for the people who have been fed the propaganda that communism is dictatorship/nazism/satanism, it's not their fault they've been indoctrinated, so try to be patient. It's not helpful to laugh and make fun of them, although I admit that's tempting, just explain your position and why it would be in their best interests (if they're proletarian)

[Regicollis]

Well first of all get your arguments in order. Know what you are talking about and educate yourself on capitalism so you get to know more about it than your opponent.

That is the obvious part. But that is not enough. In order to convince people good arguments or logos is not enough. You also need to have a good reputation or ethos. While we all like to think we hold our beliefs because of reason it is the emotional side of things that moves us. Thus in order to convince someone you need to be a person they trust.

This is why I think the first and foremost obligation of the revolutionary is to engage in his or her community and become known for something good. Be the kind of person who helps your elderly neighbours with carrying the shopping bags or who helps organise the local bake sale. The concrete acts might not have any revolutionary potential by themselves but they will make people listen more when you talk politics and economics.

Furthermore I think an important thing to do is to listen to your opponents. In many cases even the worst reactionaries can be decent people on a personal level and their concerns are often real ones brought about by the insecurity capitalism subjects us all to. They have just been subjected to a piss-poor analysis that offers the quick and easy explanation that it is all because of immigrants, jews, the lazy unemployed etc. Pay sincere attention to their concerns and don't start a pissing contest about who is right.

You will probably not win them over right away but you might plant a seed of doubt in them that in time can make them change their views.

Let people know that commuists/anarchists/whatever are not baby-eating savages, intellectual snobs or pierced stoners but nice friendly people who care about the very real trouble that most of the population face.