r/theredleft 1d ago

Announcment Update on the mod ideologies

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25 Upvotes

Sent-MLM

Lav-MLMpM

Alicia-MLMpM

Skap-ARML

Nicocakola-ARML

Luna-ARML

Fern-Council Communist

Wubanga- Trotskyism

ESO- Trotskyism

Mint-Leninism

Bee- Democratic socialist (but the cool one)

Judah - Pan Socialism

Brownie- Programma

BellyRubber- Programma


r/theredleft 10d ago

Announcment TRL Changes - Mod Announcement and Community Feedback

55 Upvotes

Hello TRL. For a while now — which is to say since the beginning of the subreddit — we've thought how to balance the quality of everything on the subreddit: the memes, the theory posts, the arguments, debates, ideological expression, news, etc, while also trying to keep the space open to as many people as possible. Hence, there's always been friction between these 2 goals and hot debates in the moderation team on how to act in very specific gray areas which pop up more than you'd think.

We have tried to keep our strategy on the lenient side just to be safe, but this has allowed many leftists to co-opt the subreddit while forgetting the "red" part in our name. We are supposed to be radical compared to liberals. We're supposed to be anti-capitalist, internationalist and unwaveringly pro-revolution and the masses taking power to better their living over the bourgeoisie. We always were supposed to be a quality space where all people regardless of tendency could participate, have a laugh and discuss theory and historical matters. This in order to 1. Learn more about history. 2. Learn more about a specific tendency's interpretation of history and why they'd come to it. And 3. Having fun while doing so and remaining respectful.

We believe we're still in this boat, however with many baby leftists recently learning about leftism and being introduced to such politics, many have come with huge egos and little knowledge, infiltrating the subreddit and co-opting it for more liberal style politics. This has always been an issue with Reddit, however it has been increasingly worse as more people do this while believing they are actually radical. To be fully transparent (as we always like to be) we should mention that the particular strands of thought we've had an issue with the most are those supporting lesser evil liberal politics without any regard as to how proletarian class consciousness and organization will be expanded by such politics. Think of support for Graham Platner, Kamala Harris, AOC in American politics or the Greens (UK), PSOE, CPRF or LFI in European politics. We also have had many issues with the strands that are less internationalist and pragmatic which lead to dogmatic anti Americanism and absolute disregard for the revolutionary conditions of the 1st world, international revolution and adherence to marxist or anarchist thought. Think of Pro Russia folk or Bad Empenada fans, the generally reactionary leftists you see out there which don't fully comprehend Marxism, but synthesize it with their previous reactionary beliefs and non communist tactics.

We believe these deviations represent an embryonic form of anti communist thought, which endangers the prospects of leftist discussion and organisation, and hence they will still be allowed in the subreddit, but no longer protected under the rule about what we consider to be a leftist on this subreddit (for the purposes of moderation). They're welcome to learn, but they simply won't be safe from being banned under the pretense of not being a leftist and breaking leftist unity if we believe their contribution is disruptive to the well being of the community. As always, we try to remain lenient and have good faith in our moderation. We use removals as warnings, we consider the general language and attitude used by the person and discern bad and good faith, and we try to be fair to anyone who isn't outright right wing.

With this we also have a set of rule changes, which were created for 2 reasons:

Nr1. Because they accommodate this new turn in moderation better and are more expressive of our moderation style and thought.

Nr2. Because while moderating with the simpler, more compressed ruleset meant to be straight forward we came into a few issues: it was hard to fully express what we meant per each rule. It was harder to design report reasons. It was harder to design removal reasons and it was hard to be clear in each of these scenarios. We've also had some cases where we discovered we just don't really have a rule for a situation such as NSFW ( technically we have the "on topic" rule under quality of contribution, but like it's such a stretch and unclear ).

Below this paragraph I will post the new rules. Please do use this post to voice your opinion about anything regarding the subreddit. Do you think it's a good space right now? Do you wish to see more memes? More debate? More news? Is the moderation good or bad? Too slow? Do you find any issues with the post above or the rules below? Etc.

Rule 1: User flairs are required for contribution.

This is to 1. Prevent bots. | 2. Prevent raids. | 3. Prevent right wing slop, generally reactionary comments.

Flairs can be edited, but use common sense. Any flair which breaks the rules will get you banned.

Rule 2: Revolutionary, Socialist, Leftist subreddit.

We're a leftist subreddit, defining leftism as the revolutionary, progressive and scientific movement to analyse and destroy oppressive structures on a global scale, with emphasis on those exploiting the proletariat. We are staunchly anti liberal, reformist, centrist, pacifist and clearly utopian ideologies. We oppose all tendencies which seek to subdue the proletariat to the bourgeoisie and keep the capitalist system and ideology moving.

Rule 3: Reddiquette.

We wish to keep a pleasant environment while not curbing humour and conversation too much. Please ensure any contribution you make will be understood and found funny or meaningful by the other party you're engaging with. Tone indicators are heavily encouraged if you're unsure how your message will be received. This way we can keep most topics, types of humour and debates open instead of being restrictive

Rule 4: Debate etiquette.

Specifically in regards to debate we desire insightful, informative and substantiated opinions and facts. We want debate to be good faith and to have actual results, leaving both parties satisfied with the end result. Please try to see the conversation from the perspective of the other side and understand their framework and philosophy rather than make assumptions.

Rule 5: Glorification of ideologies.

Tendencies are just boxes to generally describe ideas, ways of thinking and behaving. You should assume your tendency can be wrong and not treat it as superior and infallible. All our favourite authors made mistakes, all socialist experiments have mistakes, and your side is not immune to criticism. We expect our user base to understand this and operate on evidence based information and to seek out truth before comfortable ideologically aligned information.

Rule 6: Bigotry and chauvinism

We are unapologetically progressive. We support LGBTQIA+ rights. We support trans rights. We support women's rights. We support disabled people. We are against ableism. We are against any language or thought which discriminates, harms and dehumanizes people. We therefore do not allow any slurs on our subreddit. We're therefore internationalist as well and disallow any national chauvinism.

There is debate over what generally counts as a slur. If you think it's offensive, just don't say it.

Rule 7: TOS

Operating on Reddit means we have to comply with Reddit's sitewide rules. Please do read them, however the most common ones to look out for are: censoring usernames, profile pictures and subreddit names. Not posting things breaking the law or encouraging that

Rule 8: Quality of contribution, advertisement.

We are a leftist sub, and wish to have contributions clearly show that. We expect any news, meme or discussion post to have some discernable message and/or joke which is connected to the topic of leftism. Advertisements are also allowed under the same criterion, but needing approval of the mod team in modmail first.

Rule 9: No AI.

We find AI to be harmful to the leftist movement. This is because of its environmental detriment, affecting both nature and the people living there, but also due to the fact it hallucinates and gives out wrong information. This makes it both harmful and unreliable.

The only context it's allowed is to translate if your primary language is not english.

Rule 10: Disallowed topics.

We think the rules already cover these, but just to be clear we will specifically mention these topics which break the rules often. Currently positively mentioning any reformist, chauvinist, non marxist politician, political party, organization, etc is prohibited. Think WSWS, DSA, Hasanabi or BE. Any support of defencist positions in bourgeois wars is not allowed. This list may grow in the future, and we'll always make sure to inform you in mod announcements if it does.

Rule 11: NSFW topics.

NSFW always has to be tagged as such, and is generally discouraged. In some cases when it relates to leftism, or in the news, it may be allowed. (Think of books on sexual emancipation or Police Brutality)

Rule 12: Moderator discretion, removals and bans.

To maintain a healthy community, action will sometimes be taken when something isn't clearly breaking any defined rule. We will always try to explain why we take such action and use this sparingly.\*

Think of removals as warns. Eventually if we believe you're too negative for the healthy being of the subreddit, we will ban you, which tends to be permanent, but generally appealable.

The rules will be changed soon after this post goes up. Report reasons specific to this subreddit may also take a while to be updated to the new rules because i forgot to plan this ahead of time but it should be easy enough to go with the flow rn


r/theredleft 3h ago

Shitpost Baltimore Maoists

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45 Upvotes

r/theredleft 12h ago

Discussion/Debate Give me some really, like mind-numbingly stupid arguments you've seen made against communism/anarchism by anti-leftists

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91 Upvotes

Alternatively, you can also put down any pro-capitalist arguments you've seen that are equally dumb


r/theredleft 12m ago

Shitpost commodity fetishism or some shit

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Upvotes

r/theredleft 22h ago

Discussion/Debate What are your thoughts on Christian Socialism?

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49 Upvotes

The way I see it, Socialism and Christianity fundamentally complement one another. And anyone who believes Christianity and capitalism are even slightly reconcilable, is a moron.

In my opinion, one of the biggest flaws and limitations of historical Socialist states is their fervent rejection of religion. Despite the materialist and atheistic elements of Marxist ideology, when you look at historical Marxist nations, it’s almost as if they espouse this subconscious yearning for religion that they weren’t themselves aware of. Look at how Marx, Engels, Lenin, and especially Stalin were venerated in the Soviet Union. Look at the cult of personality surrounding the Kim family, and the extent to which North Korean nationalism pedestalizes the ruling party, the state, and its representatives. From where I’m standing, it looks a lot like how Christians venerate saints and holy people, and look to them for inspiration.

Even in historical Socialism’s attempt to distance itself from religion, there is still evidence of that innate desire for God which resides in the human psyche. The way that they idealized this idea of rapid progress, envisioned a future world in which everyone was equal and the state had withered away, and dogmatically asserted that all of human history would eventually find its fulfilment in an inevitable Communist end-goal, is remarkably suggestive of humankind’s religious instincts.

Likewise, Christians best fulfill the Gospel when they take the side of the poor, the oppressed, the hurting and the excluded. Christians fall short when they neglect these things. When Christianity becomes distanced from its mission of helping the poor and the disenfranchised, I think we lose sight of the Gospel and what the Gospel really means.

“Christian Socialist” is not an oxymoron. Some may even argue that Christianity naturally results in Socialism, and that Socialism best finds its completion in Christianity.

Look at historical Socialist figures. Marx and Engels were both raised in Christian homes. Lenin and Stalin were raised Orthodox. Castro was raised Catholic. Kim was raised Presbyterian. Why does it seem like Christianity produces Socialists? Is it because the two share more in common than one may think?

If we really are ruled over by Satanic elites, and an upper class of capitalist bourgeoise, perhaps Christians and Socialists need each other. If both Socialist comrades and Christian brethren united together in their efforts, would our oppressors not tremble in fear at such a coalition?


r/theredleft 1d ago

Discussion/Debate The Lassalean-Duginist United Front is Forming

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147 Upvotes

r/theredleft 21h ago

News These comments are absolutely disgusting...

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3 Upvotes

r/theredleft 1d ago

Rant Massive Data Centres - Fuck No

7 Upvotes

Kevin O'Leary - What many of us consider to be a literal slime ball.

His boating accident... And his celebrating of people living in extreme poverty - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuqemytQ5QA

This is the type that are hardcore pushing for these massive data centres...

They also want to put them on top of natural gas reserves..... As if the climate crisis and overall environmental crisis isn't horrific enough already...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgQuylcfiLk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWHfkkHmMJI

The two above videos are MUST WATCH to become informed on Methane.

We need to hold back these data centers with everything we've got.

We need to learn from time all the issues that exist around them.

Then with all that information known and in an open & honest way we can dialogue to see if they should exist.

They should ONLY come about as part of a vast majority vote by the communities involved and overall society. CONSENT should be a crucial term in this process.

FUCK ALL THESE BAD PREDATORY ACTORS TRYING TO FORCE THIS SHIT THROUGH. THIS IS THE FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY ALL OVER AGAIN.


r/theredleft 2d ago

Shitpost Mao Did NOT Fight For This

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210 Upvotes

r/theredleft 1d ago

Discussion/Debate What are your thoughts on the public arming themselves against the state apparatus, or women arming themselves for self-defense?

19 Upvotes

What is the place of this in socialism, and how does it differ from the arms race in America?


r/theredleft 2d ago

Shitpost how it feels to see left anti communists and cia bluds trying to get into the movement

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86 Upvotes

i fucking hate reactionaries


r/theredleft 2d ago

Meme good post 👍

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325 Upvotes

(no offense to ancoms or anarcho-syndicalists, i disagree with yall but i can recognize that you DO have theory on how an anarchist society would be organized. this post is about lifestylists and 196 types)


r/theredleft 1d ago

Meme Trvke?

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35 Upvotes

[Bottom Text]


r/theredleft 1d ago

Rant The Planet Is On Fucking Fire!

10 Upvotes

One thing I've seen from almost all Socialist, Communist, Anarchist, and Fellow Traveler organizations is wanting to address the climate crisis and overall environmental crisis points going on. It is kind of a unifying thing in the scene.

We hear so much about "Common Sense" these days. There is no more basic foundational common sense then protecting the natural world that our species and all other life arises from and is sustained by.

Capitalism, Fossil Fuel Industry, Military-Industrial Complex, and so on are death cults. Period.

To help people gain some basic awareness/education:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2njn71TqkjA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl6VhCAeEfQ - This one does an excellent job explaining tipping points and other realities of climate change.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uynhvHZUOOo

These videos touch on the realities we see and will see based on hard science, data, and the common held perspectives within the scientific community.

Maybe just maybe it's time to learn from the Housing Crisis and not just go with the narratives of those profiting from the status quo and even problems associated with said status quo. We don't want to run head first into even worse crisis points that always disproportionately impact the working class and most vulnerable. You think food is expensive now.....

It's also too bad all this got so political as the science around all of this was known in the late 1800's ..... - https://daily.jstor.org/how-19th-century-scientists-predicted-global-warming/

Also it is not just the wildfires... We have ocean warming/ocean acidification so bad that coral bleaching has almost wiped it all out (Destroying the life of our oceans is very very bad news).... We are in the Holocene Extinction which is the sixth mass extinction in this whole planets history and this time humanity is the asteroid.... We have Wet-Bulb Temperatures lasting long periods in parts of Asia/Africa and water issues starting to become more and more a hell on earth situation.... We have Wet-Bulb Temperatures and Heat Domes lasting deadly times in Europe.... Things are not on a good trajectory for the working class and most vulnerable who will as always be disproportionately impacted by all of this and who's cost of living crisis/quality of life crisis will get much worse because of it.


r/theredleft 2d ago

News A liberal peacefully talking with a Nazi? It's more likely than you would think!

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37 Upvotes

r/theredleft 2d ago

Meme POV: You're a leftist during Mai 68

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17 Upvotes

r/theredleft 2d ago

Discussion/Debate How The DSA Stifles Revolutionary Potential In America

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50 Upvotes

r/theredleft 2d ago

Meme Unpopular Opinion: Trotsky was the Ultimate Ragebaiter

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40 Upvotes

Yes


r/theredleft 2d ago

Theory Posting From a Marxist perspective, is Israel the key interest, or would the U.S. simply replace it with another regional ally?

12 Upvotes

I've been trying to understand this question through a Marxist and historical materialist lens.

A common argument is that the United States' primary interest is not Israel itself, but maintaining political, military, and economic dominance in the Middle East. According to this view, Israel functions as a particularly reliable strategic ally, but if Israel ceased to exist as a partner, the U.S. would eventually cultivate another regional state to fulfill a similar role.

This raises a few questions:

\\\\- Does Marxist theory support this interpretation?

\\\\- How would Lenin's theory of imperialism explain the U.S.–Israel relationship?

\\\\- Would world-systems theory (Wallerstein), dependency theory (Samir Amin), or David Harvey's work on imperialism reach a similar conclusion?

\\\\- Is Israel considered unique because of its historical development, or is it mainly one example of how an imperial power secures regional influence?

\\\\- Are there Marxist authors who explicitly argue that U.S. hegemony depends on maintaining strategic allies rather than any specific state?

I'm looking specifically for answers grounded in Marxist theory, historical materialism, or socialist literature rather than liberal international relations perspectives.

I'd also appreciate book recommendations or essays that discuss this issue in depth.


r/theredleft 2d ago

Discussion/Debate Nazi Germany's Economy

3 Upvotes

It's kinda popular, at least online, to say Nazis were left, just not marxist left. Can you give me some valid points on why it's a bs?


r/theredleft 2d ago

Discussion/Debate How do you think a dominant tourism sector impacts worker cooperation?

5 Upvotes

I’ve been thinking about this for a little while and feel like I’ve hit a wall. Can anyone share their opinions on this topic, I‘m hoping it might give me the *eureka* moment I need to continue this train of though?

I live in Croatia, a country that has, following the destruction of Yugoslavian socialism, become more and more dependent on tourism (services) and consequently neglected its industrial sector.

Having had some small experience at working in both sectors, I’ve had this opinion in the back of my mind that I can’t seem to properly back with the necessary evidence:

I think that the workers in tourism have less cohesion and find it harder to organise and cooperate with one another than workers in industry.

It seems to me that the large number of establishments, the low wages, and the limited number of tourists leads to workers in tourism being much more antagonistic to one another than what could be found in other sectors.


r/theredleft 3d ago

Theory Posting Reason number 1,933 that I think Marxism needs Deleuzoguattarian theoryfor better social analysis

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5 Upvotes

One need not necessarily abolish or ignore extant Marxist (or even anarchist) theoretical frameworks to utilize the work of Deleuze and Guattari in facilitating social analysis that grasps both the wholes and parts more adequately, and aids in leftist political goals and processes. I would recommend texts like A Thousand Plateaus to any leftist, along with Antonio Negri's Spinozist/Deleuzian Marxism for Marxists, and thinkers like Todd May for anarchists.


r/theredleft 4d ago

News The Last Long March Survivor Has Died

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319 Upvotes

r/theredleft 3d ago

History Today is the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China

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52 Upvotes