Splitting discussion from https://libcom.org/forums/theory/why-do-we-assume-labour-movement-vehicl...
Anyway, I would be interested to understand more about this phenomenon of kiddy-Stalinism that seems to have developed over the last few years.
I can completely understand why people look at Momentum or the DSA and decide "those people look like they're going somewhere, I want to get on board with them", but I am mystified by the appeal of contemporary " Marxism-Leninism". My main guesses as to what's causing it would be American influence, because I know Maoism was always more of a thing over there, and something about the destigmatization of "communism" as a word, but that's not much of an explanation.
I also don't really know much about what these folk actually do - are they actually joining vanguard parties, or just posting about gulags on the internet or what? Does anyone have any experience of working with them in campaigns or whatever?
i remember seeing meme-heavy, semi-ironic maoism and stalinism starting at least a decade ago, but it was definitely much more niche than it is now. i'd agree a big part of it is probably due to the influence of groups and individuals in the us.
the less specific factors that are making this more of a thing now is the general spread of leftist discourse on social media, and the trump bump starting in 2015. the reasons specific to why maoism/stalinism, i would say relate to: 1. racial politics in the us, 2. the imperial role of the us, and anti-imperialism in th us, 3. the general appeal of authoritarian organizations and traditions, 4. the aesthetics of maoism and stalinism, and the provocative appeal of publicly supporting them, 5. the relatively intransigent quality of both in comparison to social democratic politics and organizations.