RESISTANCE SOCIALIST RISING STRATEGY IN THE AGE OF POLITICAL REVOLUTION ocratic Summary of Dem A ca’s ocialists of Ameri S nt Strategy Docume D S A June 201 6 I. Analysis of Current Challenges and Opportunities 2016 was a game changing year for leftists and progressives. We are finally re- emerging as a vital and powerful force after an extended period of stagnation and demoralization, and we face a political landscape more favorable than perhaps at any time since the 1960s. For roughly 30 years after the end of World War II, the United States and non-Communist Europe experienced solid economic growth, declining inequality, expanding social services and increasing working-class power, coupled with landmark advances toward racial, gender and sexual equality. In countries such as France and Sweden, labor and socialist movements even made significant (if fleeting) progress toward a democratic socialist transition. Though these gains were tainted in countries such as the United States by the racialized and gendered historic gains made across these countries in manner in which they were distributed, this the post-World War Two period had been period represents the high-water mark of rolled back dramatically. This, combined working-class strength and security in the with the fall of Soviet and East European 20th century. Communism and the marketization of the Chinese economy by the early 1990s, led The Rise ofNeoliberalism most pundits and politicians to proclaim the Starting in the 1970s, however, in a ultimate triumph of neoliberalism: “there is movement that would become known as no alternative” to the free market became neoliberalism, economic elites in these the mantra of policy makers around the countries began mobilizing politically to world. lower taxes for the rich and corporations, to eviscerate democratic decision-making both Insurgent Responses to Neoliberalism in the workplace as well as at the ballot box, Given the profound and sustained defeats to slash spending on essential social services suffered by the Left and progressive such as education and social security, to movements during this period, by the mid- deregulate industries across the economy 2000s socialists and progressives in the and to open up flows of capital across United States and Europe could boast of national borders. These “reforms” enabled virtually no examples of successful corporations to evade virtually all forms of resistance to neoliberalism. Many turned accountability either to the workers they their eyes to South America, which during employed or to the communities in which this time was practically the only democratic they operated. In the United States leftist political stronghold in the world. Only neoliberalism was aided by racialized a few short years later, however, the attacks on social service provision in which situation in Europe and the United States African American and Latino recipients of looked completely different: the Left had welfare and other anti-poverty programs finally galvanized significant support in the were portrayed as an “undeserving poor” electoral arena, and had pulled the terms of whose lifestyle was being subsidized by political debate significantly leftward (white) taxpayers (even though whites through creative social movement constituted the largest group of welfare organizing. To name but a few electoral beneficiaries). examples, in Greece the left-wing Syriza party came to power in 2014, in Spain the The success of neoliberalism across the left-wing Podemos party emerged from anti- United States and Europe differed based austerity protests in 2014 and only two years upon the relative strength or weakness of later it was the third largest party in the left-wing political parties and trade unions – country. Even more surprising were the rise leaving working people in traditional of Jeremy Corbyn to the leadership of the bastions of social democracy such as British Labor Party in 2015 and the Sweden relatively better off than working phenomenal success of Bernie Sanders’ people in countries such the United States “political revolution” during the 2016 United where trade unions and the Left have been States’ presidential election. weak historically. But by the early 2000s the These electoral successes have been new wave of social movement organizing paralleled by, and to a large degree made appears to be underway, and while younger possible by, the rise of a new generation of people especially are increasingly open to progressive social movements committed radical alternatives, the Left and progressive both to thoroughgoing critiques of movements remain weak. Today we capitalism, racism, sexism, xenophobia and celebrate more the possibility of political other forms of oppression, as well as to the openings than the achievement of significant creation of an ecologically sustainable, concrete gains. Beyond our relative lack of democratic and egalitarian future. To take resources, the structural barriers placed in the United States as one example, the our path by the nature of the U.S. political progressive offensive against neoliberalism "Today we celebrate more the possibility of began in earnest with the Occupy protests political openings than the achievement of of 2011 and the resistance to Governor Scott Walker’s anti-labor offensive in significant concrete gains." Wisconsin, which put the issue of system and the extraordinary power of inequality at the center of U.S. political individualist ideology to undermine discourse and cultivated a new generation of collective action, Leftists and progressives activists that have been crucial in more face a groundswell of racist and anti- recent movements. In the wake of Occupy, immigrant political organization — powerful new movements arose to challenge represented most dramatically by Donald brutal immigration policies (The Dreamers), Trump’s presidential campaign. As the life the shamefully low federal minimum wage prospects of many white people in the 99% (Fight for $15), the epidemic of police continue to decline, and as demographic brutality and structural racism (Black Lives tides shift steadily toward a United States in Matter) and inequality (the Sanders which people of color constitute a majority, Political Revolution) to name a few. These this reactionary organizing is likely to grow movements have opened up space for a ever more serious. serious discussion of capitalism, male- dominance and racism in our society that Racist and anti-immigrant politics not only has not existed in decades, and which represent a direct assault on the civil rights provides unique opportunities for the of millions (in the form of voter growth of a democratic socialist movement disenfranchisement, harassment and that emphasizes the interconnectedness of deportation of undocumented workers, and all of the struggles and the structural hate crimes, to name a few), but also serve character of the reforms needed to make as an effective tool that economic elites can real and lasting change. employ to divide sections of the working class (who, by focusing on racial/ethnic fear Challenges Facing the Left and Progressive and hatred, are unable to forge ties of Movements solidarity around shared economic struggles Yet we must not overstate the strength against the capitalist class). In the absence of of progressive and leftist politics today, and powerful multiracial coalitions capable of likewise we must not understate the extent connecting the struggles of working people of the challenges that lie before us. While a across race and ethnicity, appeals to racism and fear will continue to gain traction race that omits any discussion of class. among economically and socially insecure white voters — particularly men, who face Leftists and progressives also face a the erosion of traditional gender staggering array of additional challenges: we prominence due to the gains of the feminist must defend a woman’s right to abortion and movement — and the possibility of confront a wide range of gender inequities expanding desperately needed programs to that persist in our male dominant society, assist the most vulnerable people in our even as neoliberalism increasingly divides society (let alone more ambitious programs working and professional women through pushing in the direction of democratic the rhetoric of meritocracy and “leaning-in.” socialism) will be further diminished. We must curtail the United States’ often illegal and generally counterproductive In their current form, however, the Left and military adventures and “democracy progressive movements are not well- promotion” efforts around the world. We positioned to build the multiracial must fight to win citizenship for the millions organizations and coalitions necessary to of immigrants who contribute massively to confront the scourge of right-wing racism our national prosperity but who are forced and anti-immigrant politics. Historically the to live in constant fear of deportation, and Left has been, and, despite the best who do not enjoy the political and economic benefits of citizenship. We must find a "Once in a generation opportunities currently exist way to forge deeper cross-national ties for taking the offensive and launching an assertive among an increasingly global working anti-capitalist politics in the United States." class with diverse and often conflicting intentions of many, continues to be material interests and, perhaps most dominated by white activists (often middle- critically of all given the grave implications