I like words. I think words are important. We use a lot of leftist terminology here, with same words having different meanings for different people. I'd be interested in hearing how you personally understand the following terms:
- leftist, socialist, communist (as an ideology or society)
- state
- praxis
- tankie
No need to do all of them, even just one is great, but please use your own words. Your views are especially appreciated if they are not based on reading theory or if they differ from the norm.
Feel free to also suggest your own words to be discussed.
Leftist, as an American term, essentially includes everyone who disagrees with the neoliberal economic consensus and believes the economy should instead be controlled (the extent to which of defines the more specific branch of leftism) directly for the public benefit of all. "Of all" is the part that separates out right wing populism/fascism, which must have out groups that do not benefit.
State - honestly, I tend to go with the old "political monopoly on legitimate violence" definition, even though I'm sure that's wildly out of date.
Praxis - actions taken consistent with and in furtherance of leftist political ideologies. Doesn't have to be intentional? (Maybe it does, I'd be curious what other people think)
Tankie - people who unironically read Grover Furr and think he's a legitimate historian.
I think praxis has to be intentional, but not necessarliy have the desired effect. Good praxis is praxis that accurately realises theory, even if it fails to achieve its goals. That just means the theory needs to be changed, and the praxis was necessary to know this. Unintentional praxis could not be used to change theory.
Leftist: someone who happens to believe whatever I believe.
State: bad. the more badder it gets the more state-ish it is.
praxis: my actions specifically.
tankie: a leftist who has read books. may or may not be wearing an ushanka.
These are my personal interpretations of the following; I am very much aware whese are not necessarily a perfect fit with the dictionary definitions.
Leftist- Anyone slightly to the ideological left of the US democratic party, or who has finally learned to unlearn and shed the pejorative and damaging term "liberal" from their political identity, and can discuss politics like an adult.
Socialist- One who believes in common ownership of means of production, or who otherwise supports the ultimate end-goal of the abolishment of capitalism via whichever means they deem appropriate
Communist- A socialist who belives a socialist (and ultimately communist) society can only be achieved via revolutionary means, which may be violent in nature.
State- The geopolitical agglomeration of peoples within the otherwise imaginary construct known as a "border" and the hierachical entities (people and systems) that govern those peoples within that border. Maintains the the only legitmacy in the monoply of the use of force, known as "authority"
Praxis- Application of theory in the real world, such as a formation of a worker's party, performing mutual aid, organizing strike/protest action, overtherthowing the bourgeois state and installing a dictatorship of the proletariat to last in perpetuity until the lower stages of communism are achieved.
Tankie- a made up term that means nothing, but vaguely alludes to Marxist-Leninists-Maoists. Usually applied by people who don't know any actual MLs outside Stalin and company.
