Lenin's struggle against ultra-leftism

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  • Опубліковано 13 вер 2024
  • In the third part of our podcast series on the lessons of the Communist International, Thomas Soud covers the ultra-left mistakes made by the young forces of communism, and how Lenin and the Comintern corrected this "infantile disorder".
    📚 Get your copy of the Classics of Marxism vol.2, which contains Lenin's text 'Left-wing Communism: An infantile disorder': wellredbooks.c...
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 96

  • @merbst
    @merbst Рік тому +17

    As a Californian, I convinced my parents to go to Bodie, California, a gold rush Ghost Town. It wouldn't be a ghost town if mining for was a reasonable business model.
    I often make myself unpopular among other Californians by explaining that the mythical story behind our State motto, "Eureka!" which is Greek for "I have found it!", supposedly representing the exclamation shouted by the first miner to strike a rich vein of gold in 1948 that started the gold rush was crafted as propaganda campaign affiliated with very early United States "Manifest Destiny" pushers, as the same white supremacist movement pushed by yellow journalism thst inspired the atrocities that led Texas to have 6 flags fly above it! The media of 1848 spread the knowingly fradulent messaging of the California Gold Rush as a strategy to maximize the land concessions of Mexico during the Mexican American War of 1848.
    This strategy included the rumor campaigns in St Louis & Chicago that caused the gold rushes of California, Nevada, & Alaska!

    • @kang1527
      @kang1527 3 місяці тому +1

      That's a really good example of what Marx means when he talks about commodities (Capital, vol. 1). By the sounds of it, no lasting social good ever came out of the gold rush. But as a frenzy of production (even rumoured production) of a fetishized commodity, it enabled profitable exploitation of regular folk by speculators. Surplus value - the speculators would have traded gold for many times what the poor sods that swished pans around in rivers got for their efforts. Lots of labour time to produce gold even if it is only marginally useful. Probably involved enclosure and primitive accumulation, kicking people off their land as well.

  • @r.w.bottorff7735
    @r.w.bottorff7735 Рік тому +12

    This video has addressed some interesting aspects that I've had in mind and has been very informative. Thank you for posting.

  • @carlosw1687
    @carlosw1687 Рік тому +7

    Very necessary discussion and very timely

  • @JasonGoodfellow
    @JasonGoodfellow Рік тому +24

    A bunch of gems in this one.
    "Opportunists meet consciousness where it is and go no further"
    A way to check for opportunism

    • @CalvinPoet
      @CalvinPoet Рік тому +5

      We could say the same about entertainment. “Entertainment meets consciousness where it is and goes no further.”

    • @derantiobskurant
      @derantiobskurant 15 днів тому

      @@CalvinPoet In other words, opportunism is exactly that: entertainment. One gives an ornate entertainment programme for the dominated class, stages dramatic plays that make their liberation the theme - but all this is done only to betray the same class, to keep it from any real struggle by appeasing it and condemning it to be an inert spectator.

  • @sambird7
    @sambird7 Рік тому +38

    The trots are doing an analysis on Ultra-leftism? this should be interesting.

    • @martinpage4425
      @martinpage4425 Рік тому

      ?

    • @ronnysmobilephone
      @ronnysmobilephone Рік тому

      Maybe the trots could explain how true communist Stalinism has lead to Russia now waging war in Ukraine?

  • @jesseweideman4247
    @jesseweideman4247 21 годину тому

    Lenins struggle against worker power

  • @SHAUNF904
    @SHAUNF904 Рік тому +4

    Good Video

  • @ronnysmobilephone
    @ronnysmobilephone Рік тому +12

    Fully automated luxury communism

    • @AbandonEarth911
      @AbandonEarth911 9 місяців тому +1

      A World of Free Access.

    • @0NEisN0THING
      @0NEisN0THING 4 місяці тому

      Automation

    • @krasinmarinov
      @krasinmarinov Місяць тому

      Wait wasn't it "fully automated space luxury gay communism"? Or something similar to that but words are in different order?

  • @hasanyousaf1
    @hasanyousaf1 Рік тому +6

    Great video comrade.

  • @urbaneblobfish
    @urbaneblobfish Рік тому +13

    Very much not a Leninist here, or even a Marxist, but this was an excellent and eye opening description of these ultra leftists I’ve encountered. Part of me doesn’t like debating with them because it’s not like they’ll ever accomplish anything regardless, but I think you did a good job of demonstrating why their ideas are sectarian and harmful to the working class.

    • @AbandonEarth911
      @AbandonEarth911 9 місяців тому

      Marxists stand for the abolition of the wages system.

    • @urbaneblobfish
      @urbaneblobfish 8 місяців тому

      @@critiqueeverything3297 I have.

    • @Grundrisse
      @Grundrisse 8 місяців тому +1

      Lmao you unironically swallowed a Trotskyist video. This is why modern day anarchists should never be taken seriously.

    • @urbaneblobfish
      @urbaneblobfish 8 місяців тому +2

      @@GrundrisseNot an anarchist, cope and seethe more

    • @Grundrisse
      @Grundrisse 8 місяців тому

      @@urbaneblobfish It's worse that you aren't an anarchist, because despite all that can be criticized about anarchists, they are still miles better than the other groups (especially demsocs), excluding Marxists.

  • @robred19
    @robred19 Рік тому +11

    Interesting talk. But revolution can be arrived at many levels.
    1848 was not a 1917 style uprising. Was it? 1789 was a revolution that was induced by a breakdown in the agrarian economy just as much as the continuous failure of the ultra-monarchistic system.
    The process of revolution and the opportunity of it, is certainly building. But it will be more 1848 style than 1917. Especially in the UK.
    In July last year, 2022, the civil service sat in their offices, as ministers departed and the Johnson government crashed into ruin. Not one PCS Union rep saw an opportunity, did they?
    Laying bare the inherent weakness in the so called 'revolutionary left'.
    A government crashing around and spiralling out of control..and workers that week, simply watched.
    Now, those workers are seeing their living standards crumble, prospects shatter and the economy enter its 5th year of no growth, in the middle of a decade of stagnation and a productivity crisis. Where less advanced and smaller countries will be better off than the average UK family. Like Slovenia and Lithuania.
    The revolution or a 'purple moment' is set to arrive. Because revolutions arrive at their unique moment and when the system cannot endure no longer. The conditions must arrive...and for the UK the arrival of these conditions are fast-approaching.
    Climate change, conflict and economic decline are raising their possibilities. But education is sorely needed.
    Gramsci was on to something when he wrote about the 'organic intellectual". The need for high conscious working class leaders, organisers, thinkers and tutors has never been more needed. As the conditions are fast approaching, as the political, economic and cultural structure will be tested under the spotlight of climatic change, resource depletion and migrant shifts that could prove 'biblical' in scale. Environmental breakdown will lead to conflict and it will be in places, least expected.
    The challenge to socialists and the Labour movement, is to propose the ideas of cooperation, public ownership and a planned economic architecture that correlates with our actual political and natural environment.
    Marx I believe, did say, Its either socialism or barbarianism.
    In our 21st century - his words echo with ever greater resonance.

    • @ronnysmobilephone
      @ronnysmobilephone Рік тому

      Socialist Appeal made this video to oush heir reformist agenda. They don't want the working class to break from Labour or the Union bureaucracy. Because they want to be part of it.
      You never actually see a video by Socialist Appeal on how to build rank n file committees do you.

    • @ronnysmobilephone
      @ronnysmobilephone Рік тому +5

      The Socialism or barbarism is a Rose Luxemburg quote. Just to let you know.

  • @ryanmilliken6106
    @ryanmilliken6106 11 місяців тому +17

    Read Bordiga

    • @evanmcloughlin5010
      @evanmcloughlin5010 9 місяців тому

      Bordiga’s (and the PCd’I’s) rejection of united front tactics was a direct contributing factor to the party’s inability to meaningfully oppose the rise of fascism in Italy. The historical record clearly shows the ideas of left-communism are incapable of effecting actual change.

    • @handsfortoothpicks
      @handsfortoothpicks 8 місяців тому

      no

    • @williamruth7586
      @williamruth7586 6 місяців тому +1

      ​@@evanmcloughlin5010lol "opposing the rise of fascism" OH NO! the bourgeois politicians got mean because we didn't side with the nice bourgeois politicians! This kind of thinking is revisionist and amarxist. Say this hitlerite shit in a dsa meeting where you can be sure no one familiar with marxist can correct you.

    • @williamruth7586
      @williamruth7586 6 місяців тому +7

      ​@@evanmcloughlin5010also lol "the ideas of left communism are incapable of actual change" you were so close to understanding historical materialism there, so close. Also the "ideas" of amadeo bordiga are of the same invariant line stretching back to marx himself.

  • @organiccomposition
    @organiccomposition 4 місяці тому +5

    Long live the ultra-left

  • @ronnysmobilephone
    @ronnysmobilephone Рік тому +13

    Labour is a bourgeois party though.

    • @lochnessmunster1189
      @lochnessmunster1189 Рік тому

      Labour just care only about being in power.. as always. And borrowing-and-spending their way to election success.

    • @Mayakovskyite
      @Mayakovskyite 10 місяців тому +1

      In the early 20th century it was not

    • @Owlbearwolf2
      @Owlbearwolf2 9 місяців тому +2

      Communists should work within bourgeois parties. As Lenin said.

    • @augustopenaspalmeira471
      @augustopenaspalmeira471 8 місяців тому +3

      ​​@@Owlbearwolf2cringe and idealist

    • @Owlbearwolf2
      @Owlbearwolf2 7 місяців тому +2

      @@augustopenaspalmeira471 compromising our principles to strategically manipulate evil but powerful institutions is idealist?

  • @janklaas6885
    @janklaas6885 Рік тому +4

    📍29:15

  • @augustopenaspalmeira471
    @augustopenaspalmeira471 8 місяців тому +2

    you only make ultrons look better

  • @zekesmith4274
    @zekesmith4274 10 годин тому

    What's your plan for today?

  • @Buddhabebop
    @Buddhabebop Місяць тому

    Ive yet to finish the video however should the working class not put forward their own revolutionary candidates regardless the protestations of liberals that youre making it difficult to elect liberals who will somehow fight fascists? Doesnt marx warn about being led astray by the bourgeoisies fearmongering?

  • @delroku
    @delroku 3 місяці тому +1

    I think Stirner said it better: "i rather have a handful of might than a bag full of right"

    • @user-yj9pp4lh6v
      @user-yj9pp4lh6v 2 місяці тому +1

      yoooooo Engels was cooking with that one 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @swfcocs1
    @swfcocs1 Рік тому +12

    Criticises sectarianism whilst talking about a book where lenin refers to fellow leftists as infantile in the actual title 😅

    • @martinpage4425
      @martinpage4425 Рік тому +19

      If you watched the video you'd see why your post makes no sense at all

    • @swfcocs1
      @swfcocs1 Рік тому +2

      @martinpage4425 I did watch most of it and it was only a light hearted comment to be fair

    • @mangonectar8117
      @mangonectar8117 Рік тому

      Did you even read the book?

  • @user-rc9ew3ky6n
    @user-rc9ew3ky6n 4 місяці тому +4

    I can't believe people are still spouting this shite, grow up.

  • @kellerwiberry8757
    @kellerwiberry8757 2 місяці тому

    This is my I am a post-left now 😭😭😭

  • @mymommy
    @mymommy 2 місяці тому +3

    read bordiga, liberal

  • @pietypietduhpiouspoet6408
    @pietypietduhpiouspoet6408 Рік тому

    so bioleninism is not a kangthang?

    • @alexjeffrey3981
      @alexjeffrey3981 5 місяців тому +1

      Go away fascist, stop reading people's weird blogs and adopting their ideas like they are valid theory 😂

  • @ronnysmobilephone
    @ronnysmobilephone Рік тому +8

    I've been at this for decades. Never have I meet anyone that says Socialists should not work in Unions. What they say is never help the bureaucracy in its bourgeois position . They all say the working class needs to reclaim the Unions. Take them out of the hands of the bureaucracy .
    Why does Socialist Appeal takr this position . It's because they want to be part of the bureaucracy some day.

    • @YimikinTheCat
      @YimikinTheCat Рік тому +1

      Been a Marxist for about 4 years ive been to multiple Pickett lines with moron sectarians who seriously suggest the workers form new "red" unions. Sorry to hear you dont get out much despite being at it for decades

    • @Ashley-1917
      @Ashley-1917 Рік тому +5

      Actually we discourage comrades from taking leading positions in the trade unions in most cases, as doing so without the right kind of rank and file support will lend itself to opportunism. Seriously, if you talk to anyone from Socialist Appeal or the IMT in general they will tell you this. There is no place among our ranks for careerists.

  • @hipgnosis533
    @hipgnosis533 7 місяців тому +2

    Dude contradicted himself in the first couple minutes. Saying lenin was perfectly principled but flexible in tactics. Those statements are in direct contradiction.
    If he is being principled than there is no need to be tactically flexible because you can only utilize the tactics that your principles allow, and if he is being tactically flexible than he would be using tactics that would prevent him from being perfectly principled

    • @mrchangcooler
      @mrchangcooler 6 місяців тому +11

      Have you ever even heard of dialectics

    • @sgbh8874
      @sgbh8874 3 місяці тому +1

      Are they one of the main enemies of Dr Who?

  • @thepuppymuffin1285
    @thepuppymuffin1285 Рік тому +2

    first

  • @tubsymcghee7169
    @tubsymcghee7169 Рік тому

    Dora Kaplan was right

  • @zapre2284
    @zapre2284 Рік тому

    LOL

  • @jam1087
    @jam1087 Рік тому +3

    Time to move on