Nihilism - The biggest bane of the modern left

 

Nihilism - The biggest bane of the modern left

 

Nihilism is a symptom of late capitalism, of failed class struggle of the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. After the fall of the Berlin wall, the proletariat stopped fighting but the bourgeoisie never did and so, up-to this day we see the manifestation of this discontent but also of hopelessness.

The people don't feel united, their problems are exclusively personal and in general they lost hope and organisation.

This is where nihilism manifests itself, it is the opposite of radicalism, a passive submission. Physical violence won't do much to a nihilist, they will wake up tomorrow without a job and money just with a couple more bruises. Nihilists are not 'charged' they are not active, they won't fight for anything.

It is the lack of meaning and scepticism to the claim that radicalism can give meaning, can improve their lives.

As an organiser, the only solution out of this predicament is appealing to the masses as they are, be local, help out strategically, humans learn by seeing and repeating, if something works, they will be drawn towards it, if it consistently brings out a positive result then they will consistently do it.

The initial stages are the hardest, you're to show broken, nihilistic people that indeed, there's a purpose in their struggle, they will feel hopeless since they've seen their attempts fail time after time, to reverse this is no easy feat, but it's also what must be done.

You need to sway, to arouse the masses, but don't forget that you're part of the masses, you're a part of the historical revolutionary process via which the masses can awaken and overcome those who oppress them, only a blind fool among this revolutionary hurricane can still deny the oncoming storm.

Do not get bogged down by arguing with other 'leftists' trying to determine the right course via theory, the right path comes from theory and practice united. The truth will never be found in old books, it is a sceptic mind which adapts to the conditions in the present and a weak mind is one which sticks to what others said religiously.

You're to adapt to the masses, assess the conditions as they are and the masses will follow you, as they see you as an instrument of their power, do not have a mind of your own, full of junk theories and self-aggrandising thoughts.

There are ideologies which bring about alienation from the spirit and heart of the masses, often from middle class 'Marxists', these ideologies bring about nihilism as they are incapable of seizing power.

Theories like that of Trotskyism have turned out to be false, their hatred of the peasant class has shown their movement to be fruitless and full of infights, they are separated from the practical reality, they are squabblers and not revolutionaries.

There are other movements inflicted with dogmatism but the point stands, the communists don't pick the masses, it is the masses that pick the movement to follow, and if that movement is not communism then it's not the masses who are wrong, but the communists.

To fight nihilism is synonymous with fighting dogmatism, is synonymous with studying the current situation and adopting a plan with the participation of the people to follow. Reject false paths and question everything, use your mind and discuss paths for the liberation of the people on local and then national level.

Only through united action based on the analysis and study of the current situation with the focus on the material conditions of the masses, can we even begin to plot a plan, a strategy, to challenge and overcome the current state of things, of capitalism.

But through this journey, assessing what is realistic and possible, nihilism gives way to realism, for nihilism is not realism. Just because it feels bad, does not mean it is grounded in truth, nihilists openly block themselves from attempts at addressing the material circumstances because ignorance is bliss.

The knowledge of a possible way to counteract the maladies of the modern world leaves one to feel responsible and under pressure, when given an option of either helping or not, nihilists prefer to close their ears and shut their eyes and pretend that, that option isn't there because the realisation would make them feel guilty for being co-responsible for the civilisational downfall.

But, there's always a path, always something to do, it may be the case of finding the path, making mistakes while venturing forth, and this is our responsibility, the future of the movement lies on our collective backs, and this is the time to face and own up to the responsibility!

Don't be nihilists, be collectivists!

-Bradley Gabriel