cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/7373861
This might be a silly question, so I want to preface it with an apology in advance and if you think there is a better place to ask please let me know.
I’ve come across a large number of self-described “anarchists” or “non-communist leftists,” or the like, mostly online,thanks to where I live (谢天谢地). But whenever you look a bit closer, the pattern is the same: underneath the aesthetics and language, it’s just liberalism. Pro-NATO positions, contempt toward the global periphery, and extremely reactionary responses when imperialism or capitalism are seriously questioned.
So my question is: Is adopting these leftist identities a kind of defensive mechanism (an attempt to distance themselves from the real-world damage caused by liberal ideology) or am I misunderstanding what’s actually going on?
I think this just happens when they see problems with the current system (a natural consequence of living in capitalist society) but still dogmatically support it. Anarchism and “non-communist leftism” and “progressive” liberalism are useful to the capitalist state because they allow people to question and oppose what’s happening in our society but still come to the conclusion that almost nothing can be done. It’s not a big leap for people to say that imperialism is bad or that people’s basic needs should be met, but it takes a lot for masses of people to turn against ruling class ideology, so it’s expected that these kinds of leftist/liberal identities would be common in a capitalist society.