The small white class formation in a settler colonial project is a powerful political block driven by a negative millenarian horizon that denies solidarity and seeks annihilation.
The inability to act first in a crisis hinders political actors, as seen in the Spanish Civil War where divisions within the working class and the lack of industrial development hampered the Republican side's ability to defend against the nationalist forces.
Deep dives
The Political Crisis of Small Whites
The podcast explores the political crisis and unique challenges faced by the small white class formation in a settler colonial project. These individuals are stuck in the middle, denied the possibility of solidarity outside their own family or clan due to competition and economic dependence on those above them. They are a powerful political block when mobilized, seeking to create an unattainable world. Their activism is driven by a negative millenarian horizon that denies solidarity and seeks annihilation. This active political force has control over the current political system.
The Desire for Apocalypse
The podcast discusses the positive fantasy of apocalypse held by the small white political project. They seek the end of the current system and promote an apocalyptic vision that is destructive and driven by annihilation. While this vision may have positive aspects, such as promises of ending sickness or debt slavery, it fundamentally denies the concept of solidarity, making it difficult to address the issues posed by capitalism. This vision is in contrast to the left's understanding of apocalypse as a process of material cataclysm and decline, lacking any positive outcomes or constructive elements.
The Inability to Act First
The podcast explores the concept of how the inability to act first in a crisis hinders political actors. It highlights the relevance of this to the Spanish Civil War, where the Republic lacked the agency to set the terms of events. This inability was due to divisions within the working class, with anarchists not wanting to be socialized into proletarian subjectivity, resulting in the army ultimately taking the lead. The failure of both the anarchists and communists to effectively defend their revolution or adapt to conventional military strategies suggests the difficulties of political movements without agency.
The Decline of the Spanish Republic
The Spanish Republic faced significant challenges, including the lack of industrial development in Spain, which hampered their ability to defend against the nationalist forces. The discrepancy in industrial concentration between the Republican and nationalist areas meant that the Republican side had most of the industrial base. However, without sufficient resources and supplies, they struggled to gain an advantage. Furthermore, the British and French reluctance to intervene to support the Republic allowed the nationalist forces, with aid from German and Italian allies, to ultimately prevail.