Patriotic socialism

From ProleWiki, the proletarian encyclopedia
Haz (of Infrared) speaking in front of an Abraham Lincoln cutout at Center for Political Innovation general assembly, 2022.

Patriotic socialism (abbreviated Patsoc) is an opportunist and revisionist movement, born in the United States, that advocates for patriotism within the imperial core. It is distinct from patriotism within anti-imperialist, colonized, and socialist countries.

Patriotic socialism has grown to become its own strand of "socialist" theory, and is wholly different from "patriotism as applied to socialism". The confusion however is often exploited by followers of this ideology so as to associate themselves with more progressive (and successful) patriotic movements, such as are seen in the Palestinian struggle or in Mao's People's Republic China.

It should be noted that the name patriotic socialism was also coined by its followers and remains the name they prefer to be called today, thus marking a clear difference with socialist patriotism or other similar terms.

The people who are commonly associated as theorists of patriotic socialism include Haz, Caleb Maupin, and Jackson Hinkle.[1][2][3]

Positions

Patriotic socialism is a rapidly evolving ideology that changes its appearance quickly and often as needed.

For example, the patriotic socialist collective Infrared published a manifesto presenting MAGAcommunism in September 2022 and now holds this reactionary, tailist slogan as their line. It should be noted that the Center for Political Innovation dissolved a month prior the publishing of this essay due to allegations of abuse brought up by members against Caleb Maupin.

Nonetheless, general positions can be identified. Patriotic socialists advocate for an alliance with the petty bourgeoisie (which they conlfate with the proletariat).

They tend to promote Dugin and LaRouche to their followers, two anti-communist, quasi-fascist and mysticist writers.

Several patriotic socialists were very vocal about the 2022 Cuban constitutional referendum, that abolished the monopoly of the nuclear family and recognized many other forms of family. They decried it as "degeneracy" and considered Cuba to no longer be socialist. This indicates a large share of chauvinist and reactionary opinions in the movement that are not being addressed.

Finally, they wholly reject decolonialism in the United States, holding instead that if workers are liberated, it would include Native and minority workers too.

Praxis

Patriotic socialism, even after several years of existing, is a movement that remains mostly online: notably using social media to create virality and thus visibility.

They have yet to form a political party, instead promoting the CPUSA 2036 slogan: an attempt at infiltrating and sabotaging the Communist Party of the USA and win the 2036 presidential election with it. The Center for Political Innovation for example was registered as a think tank by Caleb Maupin, and not as a party.

Patriotic socialists tend to attack the left -- including other communists and marxist-leninists (Prolewiki in fact was brigaded for days by patriotic socialists following a decision), but never the right. In fact, they often agree with conservatives and boost their message.

See also

References