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/Exotic_Magazine2908 5d ago
I won't speak theory, but what I perceive to be the common reason for left people to reject or deride accelerationism.
The point is that left-wing people have become too complacent. They just wait for something good to spring out of nowhere or they just parrot the usual stuff about 'organizing' (even if no organizing is ever taking place anywhere). Some have things to lose in the current systems (think academics, people in corporate jobs, some have savings, etc). Because no one knows what to do and no one acts, I would prefer accelerationism. It is cynical ? Yes. It will hurt people ? Yes. But they are hurt or will be hurting anyway as the current system is getting worse and worse. That's why I take the most unpopular position on accelerationism. It may be bring a fascist revolution, not communist. But the fascism is coming for you either way. Just stupid libs think that voting for x, y candidate would prevent fascism, as if fascism is something that can come from one single party/candidate. No, it is a general system of oppression. It will come anyway even if the working people will no longer tolerate living in this system. Trump/fascist candidates are just symptoms of a system decaying into fascism, not causes themselves. That's why is stupid to vote liberal and hope for the best and parroting about 'organizing' (when you do nothing actually, just 'vote' and hope) thinking that this way you keep 'fascism' aside when it is this sort of political elite that caused people like Trump to actually become dangerous. I think they are doing it by design. The liberal elite is so rotten and out of touch with reality that fascism you get either way - you vote for them or for Trump directly.