The movement has been growing in a way that can be compared to the growth of the “new political alternative” socialist movement of the 19th century. It represents the future of leftism.
It differs from retrograde Marxist-influenced theory in regard to:
* the wongheaded interpretation of human history as a process of “progressive development”
* the necessity of creating “the material basis for advancement to the next higher stage” [Marx was deluded in considering capitalism as progressive because it’s “creating the material basis”]
* the primary agency of social change [the chimerical “class-for-itself proletariat”]
* the ultimate destination
We certainly do a need an ecosocialist transformation in order to defang the ruinous capitalist system. But instead of universal socialism the ultimate destination should be conceived of as a decentralized diversity of bioregionally-oriented lifeways. Humanity needs to re-learn how to live more simply, more lightly, and more locally. And the left needs to comes to terms with this essential truth.
I agree with most of your exceptions to Marx, though I think you discount the value of growing "material basis." You ignored entirely the political problem I raised.
Max wrote: “It's not easy being green.”
Well, it wasn’t easy being Red for many decades after 1850.
The Green politics “new left alternative” was initiated during the early 1970s in the wake of “the Sixties” ferment:
https://greenhorizon.sites.community/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/GHM48-Spring-2024.pdf
The movement has been growing in a way that can be compared to the growth of the “new political alternative” socialist movement of the 19th century. It represents the future of leftism.
It differs from retrograde Marxist-influenced theory in regard to:
* the wongheaded interpretation of human history as a process of “progressive development”
* the necessity of creating “the material basis for advancement to the next higher stage” [Marx was deluded in considering capitalism as progressive because it’s “creating the material basis”]
* the primary agency of social change [the chimerical “class-for-itself proletariat”]
* the ultimate destination
We certainly do a need an ecosocialist transformation in order to defang the ruinous capitalist system. But instead of universal socialism the ultimate destination should be conceived of as a decentralized diversity of bioregionally-oriented lifeways. Humanity needs to re-learn how to live more simply, more lightly, and more locally. And the left needs to comes to terms with this essential truth.
I agree with most of your exceptions to Marx, though I think you discount the value of growing "material basis." You ignored entirely the political problem I raised.
> ignored entirely the political problem
At the "macro" level: Vote Green Party. At the "micro" level: Build the new society within the shell of the old.