Reply To: The Myth of Nordic 'Socialism'
Hi, L.B. here,
The idea Marcos raised is poignant:
‘The concept of socialism has been completely distorted and twisted by the left-wingers, the Leninists and the right wingers. It is going to take many years to repair the damages, by the meantime the workers are electing their own class enemies, and marching behind their own rulers. In my dictionary it is called: Class conciliation’
This is one I have struggled with recently. I do sit on the left, and I take an intersectional approach like so many others- the idea that we can take an oppressive experience (gender, class, race and so on) and join it to points of equivalence with a broad ranging societal subalternity- but join them together to create a diverse voice of resistance.
Sorry, I am trying to refine this.
Capitalism, in the form of many late advent conditions, seeks to emit new narrations for its own survival- perhaps the left/right dichotomy is its invention. Here socialism is linked or coupled to left ideas (over socialist ideas) and bonds the left to a stale mate with the right. This means nothing changes. The thing is- the right wing agenda surges in popular discourse.
The “conservatives don’t hate socialism, they hate equality” has opened up more space- space to consider:
The ideas of the ruling elite are the ruling ideas- mental and material! Okay I finally said it.
I might say I am on the left- or Marcos, thanks, might say I am confused about socialism (there are so many modalities out there: so, so many schisms):
‘and the new wave of the so called socialists will add more confusion too’
There is that- there are so many ways to be ‘socialist’ and I have moved between so many.
I am reminded of that: the ruling elite, the ruling idea- Do I follow or interrogate the ideas fed to me? I will reflect on that, who made the idea, who was its ruler?
I may of digressed from the ‘nordic myth’ a little-
The left seeks equality with the right- economic socialism. Now I might see laizzes faire – market socialism that benefits the elite over the non elite- got there in the (self poorly defined) end.
Can I say the newer interplay away from Left/Right has led me to think more deeply- thank you.
I needed to contribute this: so I can be intersectianal, but not fall into the stale mate of ‘social-economic’ polarities supporting the status quo.
L.B
