How to remain devoted to the Marxist ideology in 21st?

[punisa]

Hello comrades ,

I recently finished another great book on Lenin - "Lenin and the 1917." ( not sure if the translation is right cause Im from ex Yugoslavia )

My question is what qualities would a true revolutionary have to posses nowadays to reach masses?
I'm very interested in your opinion.

Studying in-depth the years when communism was at its strongest point, especially reading about the thrilled workers welcoming Lenin in Petrograd in 1917, it always makes me wonder how would a man with such brilliant ideas such as Lenin go about these days?
Would he even be taken seriously? Unfortunately probably not.

People changed. Their mindsets have became to narrow to except the revolutionary idea. Now they are just to lazy to get up from couch, not to even mention heading out to the streets and fighting for their rights.

Another point which somehow makes me question the existence of another revolution sometimes in this century is the fact that the founding father, Karl Marx is usually taken as a joke. Not just among common folk, I have acquainted diverse historians who totally reject Marxist ideas and describe it only as an utopia story.
Maybe I was just hanging with the wrong people :D

Anyways, take a look around yourself now, present day. Capitalism, corporations and brain-washing advertising industry entered every household and every mind alive.
Although operating quietly analyzing the complexity of the capitalist business models I can't help, but feel that we are facing an overwhelmingly powerful opponent which have built its foundations for good.
The opponent which, after the collapse of the Eastern European communism, wont jeopardize its domination evermore.

The left over are the socialist political parties which, unfortunately, have little or no distinction from the right wing opposition.

I have some other doubts about the following years, but I'll let you speak first :)

BTW, this is my first post and I'm glad I started writing on this board by opening the discussion about our leftist future rather then the past :rolleyes:

[Niccolò Rossi]

Hello comrades

Welcome to the boards, I suggest you drop by the introductions forum and say hi there.


My question is what qualities would a true revolutionary have to posses nowadays to reach masses?

it always makes me wonder how would a man with such brilliant ideas such as Lenin go about these days? This reeks of “great men in history”.


People changed. Their mindsets have became to narrow to except the revolutionary idea. Now they are just to lazy to get up from couch, not to even mention heading out to the streets and fighting for their rights. Do you ever think it is not the masses that have failed to fulfil and act on the revolutionary idea, but rather the revolutionary idea that has failed the masses? Maybe it is not the masses narrow minds but rather the narrow mind of the revolutionary idea?



The left over are the socialist political parties which, unfortunately, have little or no distinction from the right wing opposition.
Your exactly right, keep pondering on that, think about what it means for the “socialist” and “communist” parties today.

[punisa]

Welcome to the boards, I suggest you drop by the introductions forum and say hi there.


Thanks ! I will :)



Do you ever think it is not the masses that have failed to fulfil and act on the revolutionary idea, but rather the revolutionary idea that has failed the masses? Maybe it is not the masses narrow minds but rather the narrow mind of the revolutionary idea?
That is an excellent point Zeitgeist_91. Masses were indeed many times betrayed by their own leadership, unfortunately at many levels. One who refuses to admit the mistakes leaders such as Stalin, Tito or Lenin did is actually pretty narrow minded.

But if we consider the good and bad in the history, can the history itself be the element why masses today rather choose the quiet, almost "invisible" forces that drive the capitalist society over any revolutionary idea? This term "any revolutionary idea" does not need to be either Stalinism, Leninism or any other.
The "idea" is to stand for something which will contribute to the overall better life standard.

[BIG BROTHER]

I actually think the masses in the third world have great revolutionary potential. All they need is to understand that communism is the step that needs to be taken, so they can enter prosperity and escape the misery they are in. Right now a lot of people for example from Mexico don't belive in the goverment and see the inequality of the capitalist system. They just don't realize what's to be done yet. When they realize that communism is the answer, the masses will act.

[punisa]

You are right josefrancisco. The masses in the third world indeed have great revolutionary potential, but I fear that with current events such a scenario will not likely happen.
What would create a chain reaction in todays world is for an economically powerful nation to turn to communism. Maybe that is just science fiction, but I believe that the workers revolution at the beginning of the 20st was a starting point which proved that the possibilities are feasible. The next great step is on the inteligencia and when they unite around the communist ideology the circle would be closed.

Many think of this idea of mine as being insane, but I believe it is the only way that we'll see the actual global shift of ideologies in our life time.

[cappin]

Capitalists can be burned down with one flame because they only want perishable material goods, while communists will be more than obliged to do it.