This has been a topic on my mind a lot recently, but I've been afraid of asking it here since I thought I would be being accused of/banned for being sectarian. While I am more on the ML side of things, I really have no qualms or issues with Anarchists and mostly consider our political differences insignificant in the face of global capitalism as it is now. In my eyes, we're a long way off from the reality of needing to debate how a new society will be structured/governed, so, at the end of the day, whether someone is anarchist or ML is not really a major issue to me. As long as they're against the current status quo and understand the need from change, they're cool by me.

Maybe I'm wrong, but that feels like the prevailing belief, in so many words, I've seen other MLs express as well. However, it feels like the majority of sectarianism I've seen pop up is always Anarchist accusing MLs and communists of being as bad as fascists, or supporting genocide, or being evil, etc. I feel I never see it the other way around. At the most, MLs just tease and rib anarchists, but don't view them as evil or reactionary, as some Anarchists see to view MLs. I'm basing this off of things I've seen/experienced online, and from IRL friends who consider themselves anarchists, but who've recently started espousing anti-communist talking points (ie: using the word tankie, saying communist dictators are/were as bad as fascists, etc.)

So why does it seem to come to this most of the time: Anarchists more often being unwilling to work with MLs and accusing them of being fascists, and not the other way around? Is this just a flawed perception on my part? A bias or point of propaganda I've had seep in and need to try and overcome? Is it a valid observation? If so, why does it play out like this?

I'm really sorry if this is still considered sectarian. I really just wanted to express these feelings/observations and seek input/correction from others on them, rather than bottle them up and potentially form prejudices. As mentioned, I personally don't have issues with others having different beliefs among the left, as long as they're fighting capitalism and imperialism, and being supportive of their fellow, diverse comrades.

EDIT: I just wanted to thank everyone who's commented for their thoughtful responses. You've given me a lot to think about, both in challenges to my bias observations/experiences, and in explanations more clearly articulated and knowledgeable than what I understood. Thanks for understanding my intent and keeping it civil.

      • NeverGoOutside [any]
        ·
        3 years ago

        i've been personally fucked over by cadres of MLs secretly trying to subvert a coalition of groups organized against capitalist projects. they tried to change the org structure from direct democracy to a committee-run decision making process that they were in charge of. fucking insane people. they got punched in the face eventually by POC organizers from the hood sick of their fuckery.

      • Mardoniush [she/her]
        ·
        3 years ago

        No one came out of the Spanish Civil War looking good. Or the shitstorm around Makhno either. But we have worked together in the past. The KPAM was the largest and most successful anarchist territory, and it got along with Mao Just Fine.

        MLs, maybe don't treat Anarchists as either an incompetent weakness on your flank disrupting your economy and diplomacy or a bunch of peasant bandits.

        Anarchists, maybe raiding ML's troop supply trains is not a super great plan.

        • GalaxyBrain [they/them]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Don't want to be treated like bandits? Don't act like one. You're comparing condescention to being an active counter revolutionary.

    • Gkalaitza [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      this paints a weird picture of (M)Lenninists pretending to be pals with anarchists to use them for the revolution and then dispose them afterwards. This literally never happened. Just because violent conflicts after the revolution happened (and i do believe in a lot of cases the (M)L side held the big majority of the blame) and just because anarchist participated in ml revolution , it doesnt make the first assertion true. Like take the october revolution, Lenin and the Bolsheviks were openly anti-anarchist in their structure and approach and tried to distance themselves constantly from anarchist groups, actions and ideas at every point. Never approached or tried to pander anarchists or lie about their psoitions to use them . Many such instances in Lenin or bolshevik writtings. "We arent anarchists,have nothing to do with them, think their actions and approach is stupid and even counterproductive and we wanna do the revolution in such and such way" . In the end the time came of "A revolution is happening and we are in a position and manpower/resources to lead it and try to built socialism afterwards, things are gonna be done through the party line and demcentralism. Any and all revolutionaries that wanna join and help fro inside and through those avenues are welcome ".