this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2023
772 points (97.5% liked)

World News

39371 readers
2746 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Meloni heads Italy’s most rightwing government since the second world war. Italy’s criminal code punishes with a fine ranging from €1,000 to €5,000 anyone who “publicly defames the republic”, which includes the government, parliament, the courts and the army.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] SuperApples@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If left-wing authoritarianism isn't an oxymoron, then what the heck does left-wing mean?

I agree that authoritarianism does not equal fascism, but the only meaningful definition of left-right politics (in my opinion) is a measure of belief in and adherence to social hierarchies. And the USSR was definitely heavily into hierarchy.

[–] Shardikprime@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why would it be an oxymoron? There is nothing on the political chart or inherent to it to forbid the left wing to be authoritarian.

[–] SuperApples@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This is my thinking, let me know if you see any issues with my interpretation:

First line of Wikipedia Left-wing politics: Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy as a whole.

First list of Wikiepdia Authoritarianism: Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political status quo, and reductions in the rule of law, separation of powers, and democratic voting.

By these definitions, Left-wing politics should want to evenly distribute power democratically, whereas authoritarianism wants to centralise power in a single entity such as a the military or a dictator.

The perpetual dictatorship of the proletariat in Marxist-Leninism is functionally indifferent from the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie. The authoritarian leadership just becomes the new bourgeoisie.

[–] Shardikprime@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago

All good with the definitions, please share them as much as you want.

My claim is extremely simple, nothing is gonna stop you as a left wing representative to reach those objectives through authoritarian means.

I don't see how is that hard to understand unless you claim some kind of special position for either side.

In which case, this is not a conversation I'm interested in.

[–] nadir@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah, that's where the left-right concept kinda breaks down.

It feels wrong to say the USSR wasn't left when you consider the many left policies they had and of course their origin.

I also agree with your idea of what left-wing should mean. I guess there's no way to avoid complexity with topics like this.