What's left-wing about Russia right now?
Memes
Good memes, bad memes, unite towards a united front.
Russia opposes the anglo-american world order which is the only imperialist power. Anti-imperialism is the most important aspect of the leftist struggle. Socialism is nearly impossible under the tyranny of the reactionary world hegemon as witnessed by the blockades and sanctions on Cuba, DPRK, and Venezuela. The delicate balancing act that China has had to play gets them labeled as "not really socialists." The carnage the imperialists in Libya, Argentina, and Indonesia because of their leftist leanings are what happen when you try and fail to build socialism under the imperialist gaze.
The real test is to ask about Cuba.
Cuba was my gateway AES, they were the easiest to support even before I read theory.
No, it's China. Western leftists love Cuba, not particularly because theyre socialist but because they're poor.
I thought Cuba was loved by compatible left types?
They'll rant about the cuban "regime", too. Always just a matter of time.
That's my impression too. Supporting Cuba seems like the lowest bar to clear out of all AES countries
I wouldn't put China and Russia in the same basket though
Of course not but one way or another they have found themselves in the anti-imperialist side.
Think of it this way, during the secession war, which side would you have supported? The capitalists of the north that one way or another found themselves on the side of abolishment of slavery or the pro-slavery south? Marx and Engels staunchly chose the former.
sure but one thing is calling out putin for his ultraconservative policies and possible ties to neonazi groups; other thing is to attack russian with what basically amounts to cold war anti-russia propaganda
Absolutely. Going further, Putin is undeniably better for the Russian people and for the world than e.g. Navalny would've been: a literal neo-Nazi who called immigrants "cockroaches who should be exterminated" in a televised interview, and who's top aide met with MI6 offering to create a color revolution for 10-20 mln USD.
For as long as the West is attempting to install a Yeltsin 2.0 in Russia, Russian people will keep electing Putin or some "continuation Putin" if they know what's good for them.
Having said that, I don't consider modern Russia "anti-imperialist" as some other posters here, and I have no love for Putin. It's a bit like Assad, the least bad option under the imperialist assault of the USA and it's vassals.
he absolutely wanted to join the imperialist forces, and asked several times to join NATO only to be kicked in the balls each time and told that he was the bad guy
calling him "anti-imperialist" is a bit of a stretch, but he's definitely acting as a force against western hegemony, if only for his own benefit
Antiimperialism don't have to be permanent and it don't need to come from marxism.
true but imo it assumes commitment against imperialism in a fundamental level which i do not believe putin has at all. he would gladly be yet another collabolator for western imperialism if he could*, but the "russian enemy" archetype is just too useful for the usa to give up
*i think he even tried to join nato afaik
Fully agreed!
Hey now, let's be fair.
They might just be a 12 year old in the imperial core.