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In the modern world of revolutionary politics (or lack thereof), there must be a definitive example of exactly what revolutionary politics are. Revolution is the radical overthrow of traditional rule, and the building of a structure completely different. Therefore, all radical and revolutionary movements are confined by these terms. To be deemed revolutionary, the movement must truly be looking to overthrow this rule in favor of one much different. This is why the Left is the only outpost for radicals looking to emancipate the world. The Left is the only current of revolutionary thought, splintered and thinned by a ridiculous amount of tributaries though it may be, it is still the only truly revolutionary ideology in the world.
Neoliberalism, and its new found counterpart and contributing factor: neoconservatism, looks to finish off economic conquest through imperialism. It would see the world as a completely interdependent system of capitalist exploitation from the first world onto the third world. The reasons for this are quite clear, the monopoly on capital already exists worldwide! The easy answer, then, is to change all world governments into bourgeois-democracies (if you could call the current system seen in the first world a “democracy”) rife with exploitation and oppression. This world order would keep the rich in power, and create servants worldwide, ripe for ownership. There is nothing “noble” about these intentions, there is nothing about them which is looking for peace, but rather, to create peace between nations so that the hostilities and warfare between the bourgeoisie and the proletarian can be held under exclusively bourgeois rules, and exclusively for bourgeois gains. Because these movements are so inherently bourgeois, they have no way of being revolutionary because it is merely a continuation of the current status quo.
Therefore, “third way” revisionists and petty bourgeois fascists are in no way “revolutionary”. They may seek insurrection, but they are clearly fighting as much to keep the current world order as it is as they are trying to fight against the current world order. Fascists and “third way” revisionists seek to rectify some sort of liberal economic approach with strict servitude from the citizenship. This is merely a perversion of bourgeois ideals, which is why it can only come from petty bourgeois interests. This middle class assumption of needing to be protected by the strong arm of the government from their proletarian adversaries, and the need to be economically protected by the government from their bourgeois adversaries. This would only quash class antagonisms under the boot heel of tyranny, and create, in effect, an uneasy balance. This insurrection would be a “revolution to keep things the way they are!” which is a laughable aim for a revolution. That's why most fascists hide under the guise of “liberals” in Congress.
Leftism, however, looks to overthrow the government, and create a system of worker's democracy. Leftism looks to liberate and emancipate, it looks to crush the status quo, it is the only true revolutionary current. This, is more important than it seems.
Some people will say “But what does being revolutionary matter?” This question is one that gets two answers.
The first answer is that we must define our terms. If fascism is allowed to be lumped into “revolutionary” ideas, we no longer get to evaluate just how close fascism is to neoliberalism, the class consciousness of the masses will be forced dormant if we aren't connecting the dots wherever they may lie.
The second answer is that we must proclaim we are revolutionary! We must answer the call of anyone and everyone who wants to change the world. We must announce our existence, or expect to have their cries muffled and their person jailed. For these reasons, I find it of immense importance to truly define what it is and what it means to be revolutionary, and also, that revolution will only truly come from our camp.
-Jonathan Clark
He who was previously the money-owner now strides out in front as a capitalist; the possessor of labour-power follows as his worker. The one smirks self-importantly and is intent on business; the other is timid and holds back, like someone who has brought his own hide to market and now has nothing else to expect but - a good tanning. - Karl Marx, Capital Volume I
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"The proletariat, when it seizes power [...] should and must at once undertake socialist measures in the most energetic, unyielding and unhesitant fashion, in other words, exercise a dictatorship, but a dictatorship of the CLASS, not of a party or of a clique -- dictatorship of the class, that means in the broadest possible form on the basis of the most active, unlimited participation of the mass of the people, of unlimited democracy." - Rosa Luxemburg
"An Rhein und Ruhr marschieren wir. / Für unsere Freiheit kämpfen wir! / Den Streifendienst, schlagt ihn entzwei! / Edelweiß marschiert – Achtung – die Straße frei!"
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ive put this on my myspace blog as a complement to how good i think it is. I like to take shorter essays for the non-revolutionaries to hopefully read as long essays usually put the less interested off. i hope you dont mind
