What happens when radical politics lack a mass base? When the ruling class has succeeded at destroying the structural foundations for the class struggle, but the layer of young people who are alienated from capitalism hasn’t disappeared? What happens is that these disillusioned youths get directed away from the class struggle, and towards something that can act as a replacement for genuine mass efforts. In the case of the modern United States, this alternative radical current has mainly taken the form of anti-colonialism. Or rather a version of “anti-colonialism” that’s radical liberal in nature, as it’s detached from the people and can’t come to connect with them.
Argh I wrote a long comment and moved away from the page and it disappeared. Gah!
Thanks, Rainer for another good one.
Out of the movement and to the masses!