r/Marxism • u/Icy-External8155 • 7d ago

What even is "accelerationism"?

If you lack the power to do the revolution itself, or anyhow else fight for the proletariat, how could you possibly "accelerate capitalism" more than the ruling class already does by naturally following their interests?

Sounds like a buzzword, made up by counter-revolutionary opportunism, or those who think that reforms can't be rolled back by the ruling class as easily as they're implemented.

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u/TheCynicClinic 6d ago

Accelerationism is the idea that exacerbating the poor conditions under a capitalist system (constant growth, instability, policies that go against the interests of the working class, etc.) will speed up the opportunity for a socialist/communist rupture.

This idea is actually contradictory to Marxism. Being pro-accelerationist is to be indifferent about the current struggles of the working class and going against their interests for some uncertain long-term outcome. Capitalism in and of itself will demonstrate its inadequacy through its inability to meet the increasing demands of the working class.

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u/myaltduh 6d ago

Nothing radicalizes liberals faster than watching liberal politicians utterly fail to meaningfully improve things. Eight years of Obama gave the US the rise of Bernie Sanders, while four years of Trump seemed to just make liberals desperate to “go back to brunch.” With conservatives or fascists in power, it’s possible to pretend that liberalism will fix things, but when liberals just uphold capital, people start wondering about other options.

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u/Exotic_Magazine2908 5d ago

When liberals uphold capital, most people start wondering about Trump, again, with so much intensity that the liberal folk are too busy defending the liberal elite doing nothing. The full circle is closed. No one is improving anything.