The End We Aren't Ready For

On Socialism or Barbarism

Afternoon Comrades.

Today, 105 years ago the potential for a German Communist Revolution was killed, in the shape of both Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht. I will not make you indulge me in another history deep dive but for anyone interested I genuinely will recommend reading this account of it all that was written ten years after their murder.

The reason that I bring this monumental act of barbarism up today is because of her now infamous words “Socialism or Barbarism” that had me thinking about what is going on in the world around us, how these events are being interpreted, both materially and linguistically, culturally even. Luxemburg first raised the idea that humanity faced a choice between the victory of socialism and the end of civilization in a powerful antiwar pamphlet she wrote in prison in 1915. The Crisis in German Social Democracy – better known as The Junius Pamphlet, after the pen name she used to avoid prosecution – played a key role in educating and organizing a revolutionary left opposition to the pro-war leadership of the German Social Democratic Party.

Luxemburg attributed the concept to one of the founders of modern socialism:

“Friedrich Engels once said: ‘Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism.’ … Until now, we have all probably read and repeated these words thoughtlessly, without suspecting their fearsome seriousness. … Today, we face the choice exactly as Friedrich Engels foresaw it a generation ago: either the triumph of imperialism and the collapse of all civilization as in ancient Rome, depopulation, desolation, degeneration – a great cemetery. Or the victory of socialism, that means the conscious active struggle of the international proletariat against imperialism and its method of war.”

As much as I would like to comment on the ongoing psychosis that is the US led capitalist hegemony at play around the world, from Palestine across to Yemen, to South Africa and South America, I feel that everyone reading this newsletter is at the very least aware of these events that my adding another interpretation of them would be a waste of your time. What is very evident is that the manufactured high horse of superior morality the US led hegemon structure that has dominated the world since WW2 is over. As many of us are witnessing and saying: the empire is coming to an end.

I would agree with that idea but for the time being it fills me with dread. Not because its existence is something that I find beneficial let alone good but predominately because I know we aren’t ready for what happens when said hegemonic structures become fully aware of this reality and then, will, without a doubt, unleash their violence that for centuries was exclusively employed in their imperial ambitions, here at home.

Luxemburg’s concept of “Socialism or Barbarism”, or rather our surface level understanding of it fails to acknowledge the violence that will occur on the road to liberation.

The Western belief that apocalyptic events, like an alien invasion or civil war, might serve as unifying moments stems from a complex interplay of modern psychology and social leftist theory. This perspective often overlooks the inherent challenges and fractures such cataclysmic events can bring, contrasting with the notion of unity.

Modern psychology offers insights into the human tendency to seek unity in the face of existential threats. The concept of shared adversity fostering solidarity can be traced back to evolutionary psychology, where survival often depended on collective efforts. In times of crisis, individuals may gravitate towards a sense of belonging and cooperation, fostering a belief that external threats will dissolve internal divisions.

However, social marxist theory challenges this optimistic view, arguing that such unification often masks underlying power dynamics and inequalities. The aftermath of apocalyptic scenarios can exacerbate existing disparities, as resources become scarce, and struggles for control intensify. Luxemburg's "socialism or barbarism" dichotomy becomes pertinent here, highlighting the crucial choice societies confront post-crisis – either transition towards a more equitable system or descend into chaotic, regressive forms of governance.

Moreover, the belief in apocalyptic unity in the West may be rooted in a form of collective denial, a defense mechanism against the complexities of addressing systemic issues. The anticipation of a dramatic external threat may provide a temporary distraction from internal strife, allowing individuals to momentarily set aside ideological and political differences. This, however, is a fragile illusion, as the aftermath of real crises often reveals the deep-seated divisions that were merely suppressed, not resolved.

In reality, the potential vacuum that will exist due to an implosion of the US hegemonic structure is more likely to expose societal fault lines, testing the resilience of social, economic, and political structures. The Western belief in unification during apocalyptic events may derive from a simplified understanding of human behaviour and the complexity of social systems. True unity requires addressing root causes rather than relying on external threats to forge temporary alliances.

I know you all have heard this a thousand times and are frustrated with the realities of doing so but the only mode of ensuring our success in the coming transition from what we knew to what we want is organizing. Yup, I know, I am tired of the same old schtick that especially in the last ten years has been coopted by chauvinists and grifters alike but as it stands today, we are nowhere ready for this empire to fold. The ongoing morbid fascination with its death throws I understand but please consider that going forward, organizing, creating structures rooted in non-transactional mutual aid at the very least to defend and progress in these next years will have to be our utmost priority. Socialism or Barbarism is as much a warning and call to action as it is a material reality based on the study of our histories and thus futures.

We serve the revolution.

Yours,

V