Greetings! I was just banned from the anarchist forum here for linking to an open and ongoing FAQ that was created by a variety of anarchists who follow different (and often conflicting) schools of thought. A user objected to one of the sections in this wiki as it critiqued the left wing.
I was in the process of explaining the position made in the FAQ but my effort went to waste as I was banned before I could press reply, so I'll attempt to share it here.
Since I'm apparently not allowed to use the anarchist forum any more, I'm not going to have any reason to post on hexbear again, so I will leave, but please leave up this final message — I think it's important to understand the positions put forward by your opponents before you reject them. Critical thinking necessitates considering other perspectives even if they seem strange on first look.
If there is a more appropriate forum to post this in, please let me know, I'm not very familiar with this platform and this seemed like the one least likely to invite another ban.
Welcome to the discussion, comrade! It seems there may be some confusion between the terms "left wing" and "socialist." I’d be glad to clarify that section of the FAQ for you, as it’s adapted from one of my essays, and I’m quite familiar with the content.
If you take another look at the text, you’ll see it critiques the left wing from a revolutionary perspective. It specifically differentiates between the definition of "left" used by some anarchists and socialists — who interpret it as "anti-hierarchy" — and the more prevalent understanding, which essentially equates to "liberal democracy." The text also explores the origins of the left/right binary and how contemporary capitalist hegemony has manipulated this division to pit the working class against one another.
It suggests, as many Marxists and anarchists have argued, that we should move beyond this binary and develop a more constructive critique of capitalist vs worker power relations.
Many anarchists and Marxists, particularly left communists, critique the left wing for its connections to counter-revolutionary elements. This text serves as a critique of liberal leftism and its various limitations. Since it clearly defines what is meant by "left wing," there’s no reason to view it as an attack on you, comrade; by this definition, you wouldn’t be categorized as part of the left wing.
Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions! I won't be responding here however.
I linked to the blog version because the original version - posted on raddle - blocks several countries including the UK due to the online safety act. I didn't ask anyone for money, it's just a useful way to host a text that isn't in-depth enough to put on the anarchist library.