This post argues that engagement in class struggle, while necessary, does not by itself generate an adequate theoretical understanding of capitalist society. A widespread tendency within radical activism treats practice as a substitute for theory, leading to persistent confusions not only about exploitation, but also about the state, law, and the mechanisms through which capitalist … Continue reading Class Struggle Is Not a Substitute for Marxian Theory (Illustrated through critiques of John Clarke’s work)
Tag: Class consciousness
Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Toronto Radical John Clarke’s Blog, Part Three
Introduction In my first post in this series Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Blog of the Toronto Radical John Clarke, Part One , I started with an hypothesis: many activists in practice assume that it is unnecessary to engage in theory in any rigorous manner (even if they claim the contrary) since … Continue reading Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Toronto Radical John Clarke’s Blog, Part Three
Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Toronto Radical John Clarke’s Blog, Part Two
Introduction In my first post in this series (Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Blog of the Toronto Radical John Clarke, Part One, I started with an hypothesis: many activists in practice assume that it is unnecessary to engage in theory in any rigorous manner (even if they claim the contrary) since … Continue reading Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Toronto Radical John Clarke’s Blog, Part Two
Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Blog of the Toronto Radical John Clarke, Part One
Introduction I want to start with an hypothesis: many activists in practice assume that it is unnecessary to engage in theory in any rigorous manner (even if they claim the contrary) since they engage in practice—they are activists. John Clarke, a former major organizer of the defunct organization Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, illustrates this hypothesis … Continue reading Limitations of a Radical’s Views on Class Exploitation: The Blog of the Toronto Radical John Clarke, Part One
Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Eleven, The Case of Indigo Workers
Introduction One of the few things that I agree with the academic leftist Jeff Noonan, professor of philosophy at the University of Windsor, Ontario, is that leftists must start where workers are at: Political engagement begins from trying to understand where people are coming from. But where people are coming from can be interpreted in … Continue reading Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Eleven, The Case of Indigo Workers
Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Six, The Case of Amazon Workers
Introduction One of the few things that I agree with the academic leftist Jeff Noonan, professor of philosophy at the University of Windsor, Ontario, is that leftists must start where workers are at: Political engagement begins from trying to understand where people are coming from. But where people are coming from can be interpreted in … Continue reading Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Six, The Case of Amazon Workers
Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Three, The Case of the Toronto District School Board
Introduction One of the few things that I agree with the academic leftist Jeff Noonan, professor of philosophy at the University of Windsor, Ontario, is that leftists must start where workers are at: Political engagement begins from trying to understand where people are coming from. But where people are coming from can be interpreted in … Continue reading Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Three, The Case of the Toronto District School Board
Vast Overestimation of People’s Understanding of Their Situation Limits People’s Capacities to Aim for a Socialist Society
Introduction I find it interesting how radical activists forget their own past--such as formerly expressing social-democratic or social-reformist views. John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), posted the following recently (July 09, 2024) on Facebook: Some people conclude that the insufficient level of social resistance in this society is because … Continue reading Vast Overestimation of People’s Understanding of Their Situation Limits People’s Capacities to Aim for a Socialist Society
A Radical’s Exaggeration of the Crisis of Legitimacy of the World Social Order
Activists tend to exaggerate the extent to which there is a crisis of legitimacy of the class power of employers and the associated economic, political and social structures. Thus, John Clarke, a former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), wrote the following on August 21, 2024: John Clarke · There is … Continue reading A Radical’s Exaggeration of the Crisis of Legitimacy of the World Social Order
Vast Exaggeration of Opposition to the Class Power of Employers Does Not Serve the Working Class
Introduction Although the viewpoint of the ruling class, its represenatives and its oppressive organizations (such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)--practically the Canadian national police--should be analyzed, such analysis should be linked, when possible, to the attitude of workers, citizens, immigrants and migrant workers in order to gain a more balanced view of the … Continue reading Vast Exaggeration of Opposition to the Class Power of Employers Does Not Serve the Working Class
The Abolitionary 