typo fixes
(Expansion upon both the topic of Patriotism/Socialism as well as the Patsoc meme/polemic) |
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<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." | <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 | - Quotations from Mao Tse Tung, chapter 18. Patriotism and Internationalism | ||
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Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America" by Infrared Collective<ref name=":0" /></blockquote> | Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America" by Infrared Collective<ref name=":0" /></blockquote> | ||
== "PatSoc" polemic == | == "PatSoc" polemic == | ||
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]]. The controversy resulted in the coining of a contentious term "PatSoc" (short for "Patriotic Socialist") to refer to the proponents of [[American Communism]]. | 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]]. 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. | 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. | ||
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: | 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: | ||
=== Bourgeois Socialist arguments === | === Bourgeois Socialist arguments === | ||
==== "The Patriotism of the Oppressed" ==== | ==== "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 revisionist one which leaves the nation to the usurpers of the people and | 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 ==== | ==== 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." | <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, 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 process, but as | |||
- Mao Ze Dong, "The United Front in Cultural Work" (October 30, 1944), Selected Works, Vol. III, pp. 236-37. *</blockquote> | - Mao Ze Dong, "The United Front in Cultural Work" (October 30, 1944), Selected Works, Vol. III, pp. 236-37. *</blockquote> | ||
==== Utopian universal internationalism ==== | ==== Utopian universal internationalism ==== | ||
<blockquote>"Across the rest of the world Marxist-Leninists never advocated on behalf of an abstract supranational 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 limited 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" | <blockquote>"Across the rest of the world Marxist-Leninists never advocated on behalf of an abstract supranational 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 limited 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" /></blockquote> | Socialist Patriotism: America vs. America" by Infrared Collective<ref name=":0" /></blockquote> | ||
==== Accusations of Chauvinism ==== | ==== Accusations of Chauvinism ==== | ||
Accusations of chauvinism against American Communists were unfounded, for example claims that PatSocs were against Indigenous sovereignty. | Accusations of chauvinism against American Communists were unfounded, for example claims that PatSocs were against Indigenous sovereignty. | ||
=== Outcomes of the polemic === | === Outcomes of the polemic === | ||
Eventually resulted in a [[MAGACommunism|political re-alignment]] and [[split with the American Left]]. | Eventually resulted in a [[MAGACommunism|political re-alignment]] and [[split with the American Left]]. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||