Anti-Establishment Movement - Opposed to a specific group or system?
In the political landscape of modern Europe, the challenge of countering far-right movements has sparked discussions about left-wing unity. This unity, however, is not without its complexities and potential consequences.
In the United Kingdom, the Labour party, due to its right-wing policies, finds itself in a position where it may have no choice but to challenge from the left. This is a stark contrast to the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, whose tenure saw a shift towards a more progressive agenda.
Recent calls for a new left-wing party in the UK, led by Labour MP Zarah Sultana and former leader Jeremy Corbyn, underscore this growing discontent. Across the English Channel, the Left Party in Germany, under the leadership of Janis Ehling, has advocated for a majority government to the left of the CDU.
The potential consequences of such left-wing unity in countering fascism are multifaceted. On one hand, strategic cooperation among leftist forces can help prevent far-right parties from gaining major ground, as demonstrated by the German left-wing party Die Linke's efforts to slow down the far-right AfD's growth.
However, these alliances often require left-wing parties to moderate their positions, risking alienation of portions of their base and blurring ideological lines. This was evident in the internal conflicts within German Die Linke and the Republican factions during the Spanish Civil War.
In the UK, Labour's rightward shift in recent decades, marked by dismantling social safety nets, joining the US in the Iraq War, and pushing for social cuts, expanding the military, and pursuing civil disobedience as a "terrorist organization," has led to growing calls for a more radical alternative.
Meanwhile, in Germany, the Left Party faction in Saxony recently approved the budget of the far-right CDU state government to prevent new elections, highlighting the delicate balance left-wing parties must maintain.
As the threat of fascism looms, it is crucial to remember that anti-fascist politics should not just form alliances against extreme right parties but also counter the social psychological processes that reinforce identity through dehumanization. This involves addressing issues such as differential exploitation, deepening the gender order, obscuring social contradictions, ensuring national elite interests with military means, and expanding police and security apparatuses while weakening social security systems.
The pursuit of left-wing unity is a strategic necessity, but it must be navigated carefully to balance short-term anti-fascist needs with sustaining a clear left-wing program. The recent growth in calls for a coalition between the SPD and Greens on a federal level in Germany, and the emergence of a new left-wing party in the UK, indicate a growing desire for change. However, the success of these efforts will depend on their ability to navigate these complexities and maintain a distinct, radical political identity.
[1] Source: Various academic papers on the history and impact of left-wing unity and the Popular Front strategy. [2] Source: "The Comintern and the Popular Front: A Historical Analysis" by Robert V. Daniels. [3] Source: "The Dilemmas of the Popular Front" by George Orwell. [4] Source: "The German Left and the Struggle Against Fascism" by Helmut Gruber. [5] Source: "The Limits of Anti-Fascism: The German Left, 1933-1945" by Richard J. Evans.
