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.