Ultra-leftism

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'Ultra' redirects here. For ultra-capitalist sympathisers, see Far-right.

Ultra-leftism (sometimes abbreviated ultra) is a derogatory label used by Marxist-Leninists or other socialists to denounce other socialist or Marxist ideologies as being dogmatic or adventurist. Ideologies which are commonly referred to as ultra-leftist are mainly left communism and left-wing anarchism, but may also include Trotskyism, Hoxhaism, and Maoism. The advocacy for terror is a common hallmark of ultra-leftism.

The term originated in the 1920s in the German and Dutch workers movements, originally referring to a Marxist group opposed to both Marxism-Leninism and social democracy, and with some affinities with anarchism.

Ostensibly their beliefs included anti-reformism, anti-statism, anti-capitalism, and direct action. The anti-reformist stance means that they reject any attempts at reform within the existing capitalist system, arguing that it perpetuates the oppressive structures of society. They instead believe that change can only be achieved via a complete rupture with the existing order. They're opposed to the state as they view the state as a tool that's used by the ruling class to maintain their power and privilege and they seek to replace it with decentralized and self-managed forms of organization. They're anti-capitalist as they view capitalism as being the root cause of exploitation, inequality and alienation. They call for the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of stateless and classless societies. Finally, they believe in direct action, or the prioritization of grassroots organizing, strikes, occupations and other forms of disruptive activism that challenges the existing power structures.

Despite all of these beliefs, ultra-leftists have been criticized for many reasons including their sectarianism, lack of pragmatism and their disregard for mass movements. The sectarianism within ultra-leftist movements mean that ultra-leftists tend to view other leftists and social movements as being insufficiently radical and/or compromised. This unwillingness to build broad alliances or engage in coalition building limits their ability to achieve meaningful change. Their lack of pragmatism means that their positions are often seen as being idealistic and divorced from practical considerations. Critics often argue that the ultra-leftist rejection of incremental progress and refusal to engage with existing systems and institutions hinder their ability to bring about real world change. Some critics believe that the ultra-leftists tend to either undermine or dismiss the potential of mass movements. Ultra-leftists tend to advocate for immediate revolutions without taking into account the complexities of organizing large-scale support, meaning that they can isolate themselves from broader political struggles.