Tankies are ‘against electoralism’ in the way they’re against everything else - ie only when it isn’t controlled wholly by their preferred party. They sing the praises of elections in which only the Party’s candidates are allowed to run as the peak of democracy.
Democracy can be both a mechanic-- “we have elections”, and a philosophy-- “the state responds to and serves public interest.”
Ironically, fixation on the mechanic can hinder the philosophy. Winning elections can come through short-term plays that sell long-term outcomes out (for example, low taxes by scrimping on infrastructure and state services) or dueling sabotage to sink the other party’s prospects.
Anti-electoralism is common on the left, be it the libertarian or authoritarian parts, though I’ve noticed that people with revolutionary tendencies tend to be the most anti-electoral.
Tankies are usually anti-electoral for the same reason most revolutionary leftists are, be it anarchists or state communists, since they don’t see electoral systems as a means to free the workers and/or other oppressed groups.
Granted, the more libertarian left opposes electoralism for many more reasons beyond seeing it as an invalid means to their end. And everyone here supports some system of self determination and organization, just not your state representative “democracy”
Why are tankies against electoralism? Is that part of their push towards authoritarianism?
Tankies are ‘against electoralism’ in the way they’re against everything else - ie only when it isn’t controlled wholly by their preferred party. They sing the praises of elections in which only the Party’s candidates are allowed to run as the peak of democracy.
Democracy can be both a mechanic-- “we have elections”, and a philosophy-- “the state responds to and serves public interest.”
Ironically, fixation on the mechanic can hinder the philosophy. Winning elections can come through short-term plays that sell long-term outcomes out (for example, low taxes by scrimping on infrastructure and state services) or dueling sabotage to sink the other party’s prospects.
Anti-electoralism is common on the left, be it the libertarian or authoritarian parts, though I’ve noticed that people with revolutionary tendencies tend to be the most anti-electoral.
Tankies are usually anti-electoral for the same reason most revolutionary leftists are, be it anarchists or state communists, since they don’t see electoral systems as a means to free the workers and/or other oppressed groups.
Granted, the more libertarian left opposes electoralism for many more reasons beyond seeing it as an invalid means to their end. And everyone here supports some system of self determination and organization, just not your state representative “democracy”