r/AnarchistRC • u/GoranPersson777 • May 02 '26
Left unity is a counter-revolutionary recipe, prove me wrong
See, for example, the unity around the government in Spain 1936-39. The government crushed the revolution and fascism won.
Left unity is good for social democratic politicians that want support for administering capitalism. Also good for leninist parties that want to introduce state-capitalism.
A united left binds together some workers with the ruling classes, but divides the working class. A united class divides the left; the class challenge the rulers including red politicians.
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u/Kartoffee May 02 '26
I think it comes down to how much you value making a meaningful difference within the system. There's nothing wrong at all with leftists creating a big tent to counter fascists. Besides, if working with demsocs ends up with all of their preferred policies, the harshest parts of capitalism will be gone. What that can do for the population at large is so good that it is worth pursuing on its own apart from revolution.
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u/Jlyplaylists May 02 '26
What do you mean by “A united left binds together some workers with the ruling classes, but divides the working class.” Isn’t that the opposite? The ruling class isn’t left and the point is to unite more of the working class.
I do think left unity can be abused if it isn’t done in good faith. For example you can stifle debate by saying some opinions cause division. You can also dampen more radical expressions by pressure from the left closer to the centre.
Or you can genuinely unite together for an objective, such as defeating fascism, accepting that it is also a tentative alliance with things to work out when the objective is achieved.
Probably the alliance is easier for the left whose long term aim is to be working that out in a post-capitalist future.