There are some good lessons here in how not to respond to accusations:
The Current Affairs matter is not simply a fight among friends that spilled out: left institutions got involved without getting multiple sides of the story. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) branch in New Orleans ejected Robinson as a member with a statement that erroneously copied the charge of “union busting.” This was in violation of DSA procedure, because there was no hearing or opportunity to rebut the charges, only a public notification that Robinson was out. The International Workers of the World Freelance Journalist Union issued a solidarity letter condemning Robinson’s “authoritarian act” of “retaliatory firings.”
No investigation, no right to speak, and certainly no right for an organization to take action against a member.
Edit: Forgot the wildest part of that anecdote
Robinson filed an appeal, pointing out that he had not been granted due process. In a bizarre twist of events, the DSA’s National Harassment Grievance Officer [corrected to reflect proper title], Paula Brantner, wrote to him in March 2023 that not only was his expulsion to continue but that he was now accused–and found guilty of–“charges of harrassment, threats, and attacks on another member’s character.” Robinson pointed out that these charges, of which he has been found guilty, were unknown to him and that he had been given no chance to dispute them. In response, Brantner wrote, “The DSA grievance process is not a legal process, and so the same ‘due process’ guarantees” …are not part of this process” (she is paid a controversial salary of of $360,000, as a part-time consultant, to engage in such fulsome communications).
$360K to not even do basic stuff like “hey maybe we should hear from this guy like our procedures mandate,” and not even do it full time.
Brantner wrote, “The DSA grievance process is not a legal process, and so the same ‘due process’ guarantees” …are not part of this process”
I thought the point of organizing and setting up parallel structures was that you took them seriously and they had legitimacy when you went and replaced the old ones you’re overthrowing with the new ones you’ve been using
As I recall, his views on AES states are anarchist critiques, which I don’t personally agree with but (at least on Hexbear) are well within the realm of “I can work with this person.”
Would really like to see what the guy thinks of Michael Parenti.
Why? Being an ‘American’ automatically makes their critique irrelevant? Or is every Marxist state completely above critique? I am not the type of American that shuns AES states like many ‘left’ in the US but I don’t think any group or state is magically above judgement. In my view, this type of dogmatism and ‘imperialist’ labeling only helps shun potential comrades that could be brought further into the fold.
For every member of parliament, every editor, every secretary of a labour union, every journalist and public leader can always gather the information kept secret by the government and the financiers that reveals the truth about the real basis of imperialist deals. A socialist’s failure to fulfil this duty is a betrayal of socialism. There need be no doubt that no government will allow, especially now, free publication of exposures of its real policy, its treaties, financial deals, etc. That is no reason to renounce such exposures. Rather it is a reason to renounce servile submission to the censorship and publish the facts freely, i.e., uncensored, illegally.
For the Socialist of another country cannot expose the government and bourgeoisie of a country at war with “his own” nation, and not only because he does not know that country’s language, history, specific features, etc., but also because such exposure is part of imperialist intrigue, and not an internationalist duty.
He is not an internationalist who vows and swears by internationalism. Only he is an internationalist who in a really internationalist way combats his own bourgeoisie, his own social-chauvinists, his own Kautskyites.
(b) In every country the Socialist must above all emphasise in all his propaganda the need to distrust not only every political phrase of his own government, but also every political phrase of his own social-chauvinists, who in reality serve that government.
He fails this test. He fails his duty. He is an imperialist social fascist because he fixated on the enemies of his nation instead of revolutionary defeatism of his own nation. This is the litmus test for being “in the fold”. He can drop his chauvinism and correct his behavior, or he can continue being a social fascist Kautskyite.
Thank you for helping elucidate this concept for me. I suppose the disagreement I had was just labeling anyone as such, in my view people are not their actions, while people have patterns of action and often can’t break from that pattern, I don’t believe anyone truly is anything and can change depending on their conditions, so it was more of a reaction to the phrasing. But arguing semantics is a waste of time, so I see now your original comment was a fine descriptor, I don’t know much about Robinson though tbh. A nice thing about hexbear is that you can be more blunt with language, and generally around here people will know what you are getting at.
I have to perfectly honest, once one steps into the realm of being a political figure one loses all individual sympathy or human qualities. One willingly becomes a symbol representing a certain type of politics and certain interests, based on one’s statements and actions and associates. To clearly define and label these political figures into their historical tendencies is not only permissible, it’s essential to navigating and understanding politics. “Campism” is often thrown as an insult at Marxists who understand history and see reoccurring patterns and types. The reason we study old revolutions and read Lenin is to be able to recognize the new Lenin when we see them, and the reason we learn about Kautsky and his ilk is to recognize them when they appear.
I recognize a Kautskyite opportunist and I say so. He can change if he doesn’t want to be what he is, but he should be labeled clearly
Why? Being an ‘American’ automatically makes their critique irrelevant?
It makes it imperialist intrigue. His critiques are made of ignorance and he knows nothing about the history, context and conditions of the nation he criticizes. A revolutionary is to avoid imperialist intrigue and attacking the enemy of their current state, as that is chauvinism. He exists as part of the grand western tradition of social chauvinism and does not attempt to break from it.
Very good point, I wasn’t viewing the critique from a revolutionary/conflict lens, but more abstractly or theoretically. In the current climate I would argue there are many more worthwhile critiques to be made than those that are against Marxist states, so I do agree that it serves the motives of imperialists even if the critique might be accurate.
Public political figures such as owners and editors of supposedly socialist publications are also held to a different standard in their official media than a random socialist making Marxist critiques as well. He’s not just some leftist on the internet, he wants to sell himself as a major commentator and thought leader. That means he has a very strict duty to avoid imperialist intrigue and he fails at it
Same. Current Affairs was one of my go-to publications back in the day and now I don’t even visit it. Grifter ass britisher wannabe.
Wrong, he’s super vindicated, most vindicated man alive
I hate Robinson’s weak tea ass ideas of “socialism” but I find the case here incredibly convincing, he did nothing wrong
There are some good lessons here in how not to respond to accusations:
No investigation, no right to speak, and certainly no right for an organization to take action against a member.
Edit: Forgot the wildest part of that anecdote
$360K to not even do basic stuff like “hey maybe we should hear from this guy like our procedures mandate,” and not even do it full time.
I thought the point of organizing and setting up parallel structures was that you took them seriously and they had legitimacy when you went and replaced the old ones you’re overthrowing with the new ones you’ve been using
Still making my way through it since you posted it. Got other stuff to do today too. But damn.
I’m sorry Bri’ish boy.
This “NJR’s bravest soldier” bit has more legs than I originally thought, well done
Same. I now file him under “compatible left” along with Chomsky and most of the New Left/Frankfurt School.
Yeah, the specific false accusations are irrelevant when his actual beliefs on socialist states are public and dogshit
As I recall, his views on AES states are anarchist critiques, which I don’t personally agree with but (at least on Hexbear) are well within the realm of “I can work with this person.”
Would really like to see what the guy thinks of Michael Parenti.
Nope Americans don’t get to attack Marxist states. He’s an imperialist
Why? Being an ‘American’ automatically makes their critique irrelevant? Or is every Marxist state completely above critique? I am not the type of American that shuns AES states like many ‘left’ in the US but I don’t think any group or state is magically above judgement. In my view, this type of dogmatism and ‘imperialist’ labeling only helps shun potential comrades that could be brought further into the fold.
He fails this test. He fails his duty. He is an imperialist social fascist because he fixated on the enemies of his nation instead of revolutionary defeatism of his own nation. This is the litmus test for being “in the fold”. He can drop his chauvinism and correct his behavior, or he can continue being a social fascist Kautskyite.
Thank you for helping elucidate this concept for me. I suppose the disagreement I had was just labeling anyone as such, in my view people are not their actions, while people have patterns of action and often can’t break from that pattern, I don’t believe anyone truly is anything and can change depending on their conditions, so it was more of a reaction to the phrasing. But arguing semantics is a waste of time, so I see now your original comment was a fine descriptor, I don’t know much about Robinson though tbh. A nice thing about hexbear is that you can be more blunt with language, and generally around here people will know what you are getting at.
I have to perfectly honest, once one steps into the realm of being a political figure one loses all individual sympathy or human qualities. One willingly becomes a symbol representing a certain type of politics and certain interests, based on one’s statements and actions and associates. To clearly define and label these political figures into their historical tendencies is not only permissible, it’s essential to navigating and understanding politics. “Campism” is often thrown as an insult at Marxists who understand history and see reoccurring patterns and types. The reason we study old revolutions and read Lenin is to be able to recognize the new Lenin when we see them, and the reason we learn about Kautsky and his ilk is to recognize them when they appear.
I recognize a Kautskyite opportunist and I say so. He can change if he doesn’t want to be what he is, but he should be labeled clearly
It makes it imperialist intrigue. His critiques are made of ignorance and he knows nothing about the history, context and conditions of the nation he criticizes. A revolutionary is to avoid imperialist intrigue and attacking the enemy of their current state, as that is chauvinism. He exists as part of the grand western tradition of social chauvinism and does not attempt to break from it.
Very good point, I wasn’t viewing the critique from a revolutionary/conflict lens, but more abstractly or theoretically. In the current climate I would argue there are many more worthwhile critiques to be made than those that are against Marxist states, so I do agree that it serves the motives of imperialists even if the critique might be accurate.
Public political figures such as owners and editors of supposedly socialist publications are also held to a different standard in their official media than a random socialist making Marxist critiques as well. He’s not just some leftist on the internet, he wants to sell himself as a major commentator and thought leader. That means he has a very strict duty to avoid imperialist intrigue and he fails at it