I’ve been thinking about my own struggles with revolutionary optimism a bit lately and thought it would be interesting to get other’s takes on the matter. I wish i could say im optimistic through thick and thin but, like most of us i assume, i bounce between “its so fucking over” and “we’re so fucking back” all the time. Since internalizing that “its so fucking over” is just useless defeatism ive been found it easier to continue on but it still effects me ofc.
Curious to see what others think.
I have a lot of hope for the world. The period of uncontested imperial domination of the planet that started after the fall of the Soviet Union has ended. In 2016, Russia waging open war on western interests in Europe seemed unthinkable. In 2022 what Iran is doing right now seemed unthinkable too. Not only did history not end, but it is gaining more and more momentum towards ending the west’s centuries long reign of terror.
In contrast, things are grim in my own region. We are living through the era of blackest reaction that Stalin predicted would happen after the fall of the Soviet Union. It’s exhausting but I’m doing my best. I want communism to win and I know that scientifically it will be either that or extincition and that’s enough to keep me going.
I think it’s crucial for those of us in the Global North to accept that we are not the revolutionary vanguard of the planet and that’s okay, we are still valid and there is a place for us in the better world of the future regardless. History does not revolve solely around us and the oppressed majority of the world is fully capable of liberating itself without waiting for white saviors to have a revolution in the imperial core. The brainworms of eurocentric history run deep and we need to actively fight to rid ourselves of them so that we can engage in uncompromising solidarity with the Global South in their struggle. Any socialist movement in the Global North that is willing to compromise on anti-imperialism will eventually end up as the moderate wing of white supremacy.