Patriotic Socialism: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 04:09, 6 January 2023

Patriotic socialism (abbreviated Patsoc) is an opportunist and revisionist movement, born in the United States, that advocates for patriotism within the imperial core. It is distinct from patriotism within anti-imperialist, colonized, and socialist countries. Patriotic socialism has grown to become its own strand of "socialist" theory, especially within the Communist movement in the United States. However, this trend is wholly different from "patriotism as applied to socialism". The confusion however is often exploited by followers of this ideology so as to associate themselves with more progressive (and successful) patriotic movements, such as are seen in the Palestinian struggle or in Mao's People's Republic China.

It should be noted that the name patriotic socialism was also coined by its followers and remains the name they prefer to be called today, thus marking a clear difference with socialist patriotism or other similar terms.

The people who are commonly associated as theorists of patriotic socialism include Haz, Caleb Maupin, and Jackson Hinkle.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Positions

Patriotic socialism is a rapidly evolving ideology, and as a consequence of the disorganization and cliquishness among is adherents, may change its appearance quickly and often as needed, and often lacks any sort of commonly-agreed upon theory or principles that are beyond a few basic tenets.

For instance, the patriotic socialist collective Infrared published a manifesto presenting MAGAcommunism in September 2022, which was previously restricted to an esoteric hashtag, holds this reactionary, tailist slogan as their ideological line. It should be noted that the Center for Political Innovation dissolved a month prior the publishing of this essay due to allegations of abuse brought up by members against Caleb Maupin.^[4]

Other general positions can similarly be identified. Patriotic socialists advocate for an alliance with, and indeed commonly tail the interests and ideological tendency of, the petty bourgeoisie (whom they conflate with the proletariat).^[5] They further tend to promote Dugin and LaRouche to their followers and align with them: two anti-communist, quasi-fascist and mysticist writers. They also align with right-wing populist protest movements, such as the Tea Party movement, or the 2022 Trucker protests.

Several patriotic socialists were very vocal about the 2022 Cuban constitutional referendum that abolished the monopoly of the nuclear family and recognized many other forms of family. They decried it as "degeneracy" and considered Cuba to no longer be socialist. This indicates a large share of chauvinist and reactionary opinions in the movement that are not being addressed.

Finally, they wholly reject decolonialism in the United States, holding instead that if workers are liberated, it would include Native and minority workers too.^[3]

Praxis

Patriotic socialism, even after several years of existing, is a movement that remains mostly online: notably using social media to create virality and thus visibility.

They have yet to form a political party, instead promoting the CPUSA 2036 slogan: an attempt at infiltrating and sabotaging the Communist Party of the USA and win the 2036 presidential election with it. The Center for Political Innovation for example was registered as a think tank by Caleb Maupin, and not as a party.

Patriotic socialists tend to attack the left -- including the projects and efforts of communists and marxist-leninists, particularly when it is internet-based, but almost never the right. In fact, they often agree with conservatives and boost their message.

References

[:0-1] American Patriotism or National Liberation?

[:2-2] 'Left patriotism': An opportunist disorder

[:1-3] 3.0 ^3.1 Template:Web citation

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-'''Patriotic Socialism''', whose adherents are sometimes called "'''PatSocs'''" (shortened version of "'''Patriotic Socialists'''") is a third rail issue in modern American politics which rejects the historical nihilism of the anti-patriotic [[Synthetic Left|Synthetic Leftists]]. “PatSoc” is now considered to be an outdated term having been superseded by the term Mecha Tankies.
+'''Patriotic socialism''' (abbreviated '''Patsoc''') is an [[Opportunism|opportunist]] and [[Revisionism|revisionist]] movement, born in the [[United States of America|United States]], that advocates for [[patriotism]] within the [[imperial core]]. It is distinct from patriotism within [[Anti-imperialism|anti-imperialist]], [[Colonialism|colonized]], and [[Socialism|socialist]] countries. Patriotic socialism has grown to become its own strand of "socialist" theory, especially within the Communist movement in the United States. However, this trend is wholly different from "patriotism as applied to socialism". The confusion however is often exploited by followers of this ideology so as to associate themselves with more progressive (and successful) patriotic movements, such as are seen in the [[State of Palestine|Palestinian]] struggle or in [[Mao Zedong|Mao]]'s [[People's Republic of China|People's Republic China]].
-== "PatSoc" Discourse ==
-The topic of Patriotism and Socialism in America became the subject of online polemic in mid-2022, with a range of criticisms from questions around [[Patriotic Internationalism]], to claiming that one cannot be both a socialist and a patriot in America, given it's origins as a settler-colonial venture, and it's current status as [[American Imperialism|the leading imperialist power]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220605211916/https://lemmygrad.ml/post/36305/comment/80042 Quotes On The Need For Socialist Patriotism] by enigma archived on [[Lemmygrad]], taken down by Lemmygrad moderators</ref> The controversy resulted in the coining of a contentious term "PatSoc" (short for "Patriotic Socialist") to refer to the proponents of [[American Communism]].
-American Communists hold that Communism in American should take a patriotic orientation<ref>''[https://www.midwesternmarx.com/articles/in-defense-of-us-proletarian-patriotism-a-comradely-response-to-danny-haiphongs-marxist-polemic-on-patriotic-socialism-by-kayla-popuchet In Defense of U.S. Proletarian Patriotism: A comradely response to Danny Haiphong’s “Marxist” Polemic on Patriotic Socialism]'' by [[Kayla Popuchet]] on [[Midwestern Marx]]</ref> and gain a definite [[Communism with American characteristics|national form]] as a matter of consistency with the reality of [[Marxist-Leninism|Marxist-Leninist]] tradition.
+It should be noted that the name ''patriotic socialism'' was also coined by its followers and remains the name they prefer to be called today, thus marking a clear difference with ''socialist patriotism'' or other similar terms.
-Bourgeois Socialists in the United States used the term PatSoc to sow contention among the American Left (as a [[Reactionary|reaction]] to [[MAGACommunism|political re-alignment]]) on the basis of multiple accusations:
+The people who are commonly associated as theorists of patriotic socialism include [[Haz]], [[Caleb Maupin]], and [[Jackson Hinkle]].<ref name=":0">[https://regenerationmag.org/american-patriotism-or-national-liberation/ American Patriotism or National Liberation?]</ref><ref name=":2">[https://www.socialist.net/left-patriotism-an-opportunist-disorder.htm 'Left patriotism': An opportunist disorder]</ref><ref name=":1">{{Web citation|author=[[Infrared]]|newspaper=Youtube|title=Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America|date=2022-10-26|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eveOKE4Ones&t=915s|retrieved=2022-10-3}}</ref>
-=== Bourgeois Socialist arguments ===
-==== "The Patriotism of the Oppressed" ====
-A common argument among the American Left was that Socialist Patriotism could only apply to countries that were not "oppressors". Such a claim is a non-scientific and revisionist one which leaves the nation to the usurpers of the people and allows the legacy and historical reality of the masses to rot and waste. Such a view is contradictory to the true meaning of scientific socialism: the revitalization of the people while still remaining faithful to the same [[Modernity|modernity that begs the social question to begin with]].
-==== Populism, Political Backwardness and Right Opportunism ====
-<blockquote>"If we tried to go on the offensive when the masses are not yet awakened, that would be adventurism. If we insisted on leading the masses to do anything against their will, we would certainly fail. If we did not advance when the masses demand advance, that would be Right opportunism."
-- Mao Ze Dong, A Talk to the Editorial Staff of the Shansi-Suiyuan Daily" (April 2, I948), Selected Works, Vol. IV, p. 243.</blockquote>One argument was that the patriotism of the American working-class was a politically-backwards one which did not strive for cultural ideals of utopian/bourgeois socialism. Such a perspective views Socialism, not as an open-ended scientific process, but as a static one seeking to impose a universal superstructural reality upon on the particular realities of the people.<blockquote>"To link oneself with the masses, one must act in accordance with the needs and wishes of the masses. All work done for the masses must start from their needs and not from the desire of any individual, however well-intentioned. It often happens that objectively the masses need a certain change, but subjectively they are not yet conscious of the need, not yet willing or determined to make the change. In such cases, we should wait patiently. We should not make the change until, through our work, most of the masses have become conscious of the need and are willing and determined to carry it out. Otherwise we shall isolate ourselves from the masses. Unless they are conscious and willing, any kind of work that requires their participation will turn out to be a mere formality and will fail.... There are two principles here: one is the actual needs of the masses rather than what we fancy they need, and the other is the wishes of the masses, who must make up their own minds instead of our making up their minds for them.
-- Mao Ze Dong, "The United Front in Cultural Work" (October 30, 1944), Selected Works, Vol. III, pp. 236-37. *</blockquote>
-==== Utopian universal internationalism ====
-<blockquote>"Across the rest of the world Marxist-Leninists never advocated on behalf of an abstract supernational working class, nor did they preach the destruction of their own nations to berate their own people for their ostensible backwardness. On the contrary, Marxist-Leninist parties were successful for the precise reason that they could connect with and give body to the strivings of a concrete and determinate people other than superimposing on them foreign and abstract doctrines"
-Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America" by Infrared Collective<ref name=":0">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eveOKE4Ones&t=328s Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America] by [[Infrared]] on [[YouTube]]</ref></blockquote>
-==== Accusations of Chauvinism ====
-Accusations of chauvinism against American Communists were unfounded, for example claims that PatSocs were against Indigenous sovereignty.
-=== Outcomes of the polemic ===
-Eventually resulted in a [[MAGACommunism|political re-alignment]] and [[split with the American Left]].
-== Relevant quotes ==
-<blockquote>"Can a Communist, who is an internationalist, at the same time be a patriot? We hold that he not only can be but also must be."
-- Quotations from Mao Tse Tung, chapter 18. Patriotism and Internationalism
+==Positions==
+Patriotic socialism is a rapidly evolving ideology, and as a consequence of the disorganization and cliquishness among is adherents, may change its appearance quickly and often as needed, and often lacks any sort of commonly-agreed upon theory or principles that are beyond a few basic tenets.
-"Though not in substance, yet in form, the struggle of the proletariat with the bourgeoisie is at first a national struggle"
+For instance, the patriotic socialist collective [[Infrared]] published a manifesto presenting ''MAGAcommunism'' in September 2022, which was previously restricted to an esoteric hashtag, holds this reactionary, tailist slogan as their ideological line. It should be noted that the [[Center for Political Innovation]] dissolved a month prior the publishing of this essay due to allegations of abuse brought up by members against Caleb Maupin.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Haz Al-Din|newspaper=[[Infrared]]|title=THE RISE OF MAGA COMMUNISM|date=2022-9-18|url=https://showinfrared.substack.com/p/the-rise-of-maga-communism?sd=pf|retrieved=2022-9-22}}</ref>
-- Marx & Engels, The Communist Manifesto
+Other general positions can similarly be identified. Patriotic socialists advocate for an alliance with, and indeed commonly tail the interests and ideological tendency of, the [[petty bourgeoisie]] (whom they conflate with the [[proletariat]]).<ref>{{Web citation|author=[[Infrared]]|newspaper=Youtube|title=Rise of the Mecha-Tankies|date=2022-7-19|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPojH2KtLks|retrieved=2022-10-3}}</ref> They further tend to promote  [[Aleksandr Dugin|Dugin]] and [[Lyndon LaRouche|LaRouche]] to their followers and align with them: two [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]], quasi-[[Fascism|fascist]] and [[Mysticism|mysticist]] writers. They also align with [[right-wing]] [[Populism|populist]] protest movements, such as the Tea Party movement, or the [[2022 Truckers' Protest|2022 Trucker protests]].
+Several patriotic socialists were very vocal about the 2022 Cuban constitutional referendum that abolished the monopoly of the nuclear family and recognized many other forms of family. They decried it as "degeneracy" and considered Cuba to no longer be socialist. This indicates a large share of chauvinist and reactionary opinions in the movement that are not being addressed.
-"That socialism had assumed patriotic and national form is not due to the opportunism of socialists and communist parties but was part and parcel to the meaning of socialism itself"
+Finally, they wholly reject [[decolonialism]] in the United States, holding instead that if workers are liberated, it would include Native and minority workers too.<ref name=":1" />
-Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America" by Infrared Collective<ref name=":0" />
+==Praxis==
+Patriotic socialism, even after several years of existing, is a movement that remains mostly online: notably using social media to create virality and thus visibility.
+They have yet to form a political party, instead promoting the ''CPUSA 2036'' slogan: an attempt at infiltrating and sabotaging the [[Communist Party of the United States of America|Communist Party of the USA]] and win the 2036 presidential election with it. The Center for Political Innovation for example was registered as a think tank by Caleb Maupin, and not as a party.
-"This begs the question: What was the actual relationship between socialists and patriotism historically? What becomes immediately clear is that the track record of the 19th and especially 20th centuries show that socialists and communists have consistently been patriotic and deeply attuned to the national realities of the countries they held from ... It is only in america and those under the influence of its empire where those under this way of american exceptionalism remain dominant on the left that socialists imagine they can elevate themselves above national realities and speak on behalf of an abstract working class uprooted and estranged from its particular and national instantiation."
+Patriotic socialists tend to attack the left -- including the projects and efforts of communists and marxist-leninists, particularly when it is internet-based, but almost never the right. In fact, they often agree with conservatives and boost their message.
-Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America" by Infrared Collective<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>
+==See also==
-== References ==
+*[[National Bolshevism]]
+*[[MAGACommunism]]
+*[[Welfare Chauvinism]]
+*[[Strasserism]]
+==References==
 <references />
+[[Category:Far-right groups in the United States]]
+[[Category:Reactionaries]]
+[[Category:Right-wing ideologies]]