We’re in for a prolonged, intense period of class warfare. We, the revolutionary anti-capitalists, must be conscious of our aims and what is at stake. We are in what Gramsci called a ‘war of position’: we seek to help our brothers and sisters recognise the class-based structure of the capitalist system that generates the deep injustice they perceive and experience. We seek to develop an alternative, ‘counter-hegemonic’ culture and value system. Only when most of society rejects the ruling class’ ideas and values and embraces these alternative ideas and values can we hope to win the war of position and move to a ‘war of manoeuvre’ aimed at replacing the capitalist system with some form of socialist alternative.
This is why the Occupy movements are so important. Their message is honest and clear. It resonates with many sections of society. Yet, beyond the message, equally importantly, the Occupiers are the embodiment of a very different set of ideas and values. ‘Be the change you want to see’ might be their motto. The Occupiers are consciously trying to build the kind of society they wish to see.
The mainstream media first tried to ignore them and has tried to discredit them. Yet, whenever they interview individuals participating in or spokespeople for the Occupy movements they reluctantly give a platform to articulate and informed, passionate yet sober, likeable and peaceful men and women. Whenever the police brutally attack another peaceful Occupation or protest they help to delegitimize the ideas and values of the hegemonic ruling class and strike a blow for the revolutionary counter-hegemonic movement.
Most people participating in the Occupy movements seek radical change by peaceful means. Most have some kind of broadly socialist, post-capitalist vision for society. Yet, there are also many protesters who are inspired and informed by a very different group of people with a very different message and a very different vision for society. I refer to a group we can call the ‘conspiracy theorists’. The influence of people like David Icke and Alex Jones is palpable. Their influence is most probably far greater in the United States.
Reaching out to this group of protesters will be crucial in this war of position. The conspiracy theorists, like the Tea Party, articulate an aggressive anti-government, ultra-libertarian ideology. According to them, it’s not capitalism that is bad. It’s government. Governments around the world, along with international organisations like the United Nations and World Bank, are, they believe, in the clutches of a secret society called the ‘Illuminati’ or a group of elite families, such as the Rockefellers and Rothschilds, intent on building a ‘new world order’.
The conspiracy theorists are ultra-libertarian in the sense that they believe that central government is the mechanism for mass enslavement and that only the end of government – both national and international – can liberate each individual. Thus, their vision for society is anarchic, i.e. for a stateless society where individuals are left to fend for themselves and pursue their own vision of the good life. Yet, in stark contrasts to Anarchists, private not communally owned property is the cornerstone for their ideal society.
Thus, the right-wing conspiracy theorists’ ideology stands in direct opposition to the anti-capitalist Socialist/Marxist/Anarchist visions. Theirs is a vision built on a deeply cynical view of human nature. Ours is based on a deep love for and belief in humankind. Their misanthropy leads to a selfish, privatised, atomised view of society. Our love of humanity leads to communitarian visions of society based on egalitarian principles, self-sacrifice, and co-operation. Their ideology offers little guidance for action. How can you argue for communal organisation when you have such little faith in your fellow man? We say that our emancipation, our very survival can be only achieved by uniting and working together. They advocate a world in which profit is still the priority. We advocate a world in which all people, and all creatures with which we co-exist, take priority. Theirs is a vision based on borders, closed ones at that. Ours is for a world without borders, without nations. In sum, theirs is a deeply conservative, reactionary ideology. Ours is progressive and truly radical.
There is nothing intrinsically toxic or evil about the institution of government. The state is just an instrument of the hegemonic class. It can build a social welfare system or dismantle it. It can attack ethnic, religious or sexual minorities or it can protect them. It can prosecute imperial wars or it can decolonise. What matters is who controls it and how.
Young people are disillusioned and angry. They demand change. Yet the conspiracy theorists and Tea Partiers offer neither a coherent theoretical framework to understand the world, nor a progressive agenda for change. Our message to those attracted by the conspiracy theorists must be clear: The 1% may conspire to maintain and expand their wealth and power, they may use the media, educational and cultural institutions to make us believe in their ideas and values. But the economic power that keeps them on top derives from the exploitative nature of capitalist social relations. Class is the essential factor in any analysis.
At first glance, we all seem to recognise a common enemy. But I am not sure that we even have that in common with the conspiracy theorists. The anti-statist, laissez faire views of the conspiracy theorists serve the interests of the ruling class well. Our only hope of success is to reject the siren call of the conspiracy theorists and come together in unity to struggle against and dismantle the capitalist system – the real cause of human misery and environmental destruction worldwide.
This is why the Occupy movements are so important. Their message is clear and welcomed by many sections of society, but, equally importantly, they are the embodiment of a very different set of ideas and values. ‘Be the change you want to see’ might be their motto. The Occupiers are very consciously trying to build the kind of society they wish to see. The mainstream media has tried to discredit them, but whenever they interview individuals participating in or spokespeople for the Occupy movements they invariably give a platform to articulate and informed, passionate yet sober, likeable and peaceful men and women. Whenever the police brutally attack another peaceful Occupation or protest they help to delegitimize the ideas and values of the hegemonic ruling class and strike a blow for the revolutionary counter-hegemonic movement.
Most people participating in the Occupy movements seek radical change by peaceful means. Most have some kind of socialist, post-capitalist vision for society. Yet, there is a very significant group among the protesters who are inspired and informed by a very different group of people with a very different message and a very different vision for society. I refer to a group we can call the ‘conspiracy theorists’. The influence of people like David Icke and Alex Jones is palpable. Their influence is most probably far greater in the United States.
Reaching out to this group in terms of education and developing their class consciousness will be crucial in this war of position. The conspiracy theorists articulate an aggressive anti-government, ultra-libertarian ideology. According to them, it’s not capitalism that is bad. It’s government. Governments around the world, along with international organisations like the United Nations and World Bank, are, they believe, in the clutches of a secret society called the ‘Illuminati’ or a group of families intent on building a ‘new world order’. The Rockefellers and Rothschilds are suspects numbers 1 and 2 in this regard.
The conspiracy theorists are ultra-libertarian in the sense that they believe the current power structure to be enslaving the masses and that only the end of government – both national and international – can liberate each individual. Thus, their vision for society is anarchic, i.e. for a stateless society where individuals are left to fend for themselves and pursue their own vision of the good life. Yet, in stark contrasts to Anarchists, private not communally owned property is the cornerstone for their ideal society.
Thus, the right-wing conspiracy theorists’ ideology stands in direct opposition to the anti-capitalist Socialist/Marxist/Anarchist visions. Theirs is a vision built on a deeply cynical view of human nature. Ours is based on a deep love for and belief in humankind. Their misanthropy leads to a selfish, privatised, atomised view of society. Ours love of humanity leads to communitarian visions of society based on egalitarian principles, self-sacrifice, and co-operation. Their ideology offers little guidance for action. How can you argue for communal organisation when you have such little faith in your fellow man? We say that our emancipation, our very survival can be only achieved by working and uniting together. They advocate a world in which profit is still the priority. We advocate a world in which all people, and all creatures with which we co-exist, take priority. Theirs is a vision based on borders, closed ones at that. Ours is for a world without borders, without nations. In sum, theirs is a deeply conservative, reactionary ideology. Ours is progressive and truly radical.
Young people are disillusioned and angry. They demand change. Yet the conspiracy theorists offer neither a coherent theoretical framework to understand the world, nor a progressive agenda for change. Our message to those attracted by the conspiracy theorists must be clear: The 1% may conspire to maintain and expand their wealth and power, they may use the media, educational and cultural institutions to make us believe in their ideas and values. But it is their economic power that keeps them on top and their economic power derives from the exploitative nature of capitalist social relations. Class is the essential factor in any analysis.
The state is pretty much just an instrument of the hegemonic class. It can build a social welfare system or dismantle it. It can attack ethnic, religious or sexual minorities or it can protect them. It can prosecute imperial wars or it can decolonise. What matters is who controls it and how.
At first glance, we all seem to recognise a common enemy. But I am not sure that we even have that in common with the conspiracy theorists. The anti-statist, laissez faire views of the conspiracy theorists serve the interests of the ruling class well. Our only hope of success is to reject the siren call of the conspiracy theorists and come together in unity to struggle against and dismantle the capitalist system – the real cause of human misery and environmental destruction worldwide.
