It’s something that’s struck me over and over as I’ve read through historical accounts of progressive movements, that despite their being ostensibly more collectivist compared to some conservative hyper-individualism…They struggle to hold together and coordinate to accomplish their goals. In some instances it’s interference or sabotage from outside, but as often it can be found from within as well.
What are some of the contributing factors here, and how might they be addressed to better accomplish progressive aims?
For some leftists/progressives, I think you’re right that they’re firmly anti-authoritarian through and through, making that the central issue they’re fighting against, but for just as many, if not many more, wouldn’t it be more that they’re fighting against economic inequality/injustice, bigotry, disenfranchisement, and the like?
Or to put it more positively, fighting for justice, equality, enfranchisement, etc.?
Yeah I think my argument definitely leans further left, and another big factor is what paddirn is saying on this post. The problem with our current society is a vast web of interconnected problems and systems, and we have a sort of paralysis of choice of what to attack first. It’s difficult to know where to start on this dauntingly large task.
I think it could make sense to make use of our broad interest to divide and conquer. Maybe we can’t all unite to fight one issue at a time, maybe it’d be more effective to split into groups that each take on an issue. I think there still needs to be a unified strategy so that the various problems can be dealt with in full, and that would include support from the whole when that becomes necessary. But if we set up a plan of attack that could, 1) appease the interests of all to see the issues they’re most passionate about written down to be addressed even if it’s not immediate, and 2) break the massive task into smaller more manageable chunks. In order for that to happen there still needs to be some coordination and commitment to action which I address in my previous comment, but I think this is a more actionable way for real progress to happen.