Alexandra Kollontai's revolutionary ideas bridge personal emotions and collective struggles, advocating that love can energize social movements.
Kollontai critiques bourgeois marriage as possessive, proposing a liberated love that fosters emotional connections across communities.
The distinction between 'winged' and 'wingless' eros highlights the importance of deep relationships in nurturing societal solidarity and fulfillment.
Kollontai's concept of love comradeship emphasizes shared emotional responsibility, enhancing unity and cooperation in collective action.
Deep dives
Introduction to Alexandra Kollontai
Alexandra Kollontai was a significant figure in Russian history, known for her contributions to the feminist and socialist movements. Born into a privileged family, she became a revolutionary early in life and navigated the tumultuous political landscape during and after the Russian Revolution. As the first woman to hold a government cabinet position, her legacy includes advocating for women's rights and social change. Kollontai's journey reflects the complexities of political ideology and personal experience during a time of great upheaval.
The Importance of Love and Emotional Revolution
Kollontai explores the relationship between love and the socio-political context of the time, emphasizing that personal emotions play a crucial role in the collective struggle. The civil war in Russia temporarily redirected focus away from romantic relationships, which she argues can shape social behavior and collective efforts. As the societal landscape shifts towards stability, the exploration of love's place in a new socialist order becomes relevant. This transition is marked by the need for an inner revolution to complement political and economic changes.
Therapeutic Value of Love
Kollontai posits that love must be understood not just as a personal feeling but as a powerful social force that can energize and connect the collective. She distinguishes between 'winged' and 'wingless' eros, with the former representing deep, fulfilling connections and the latter referring to casual relationships devoid of emotional depth. Under the pressures of revolutionary fervor, casual encounters may dominate but fail to nurture the inner lives of individuals. This distinction leads to the recognition that love’s cultivation can enhance societal solidarity.
Historical Context of Love
Kollontai argues that the understanding and practice of love have historically evolved alongside societal structures. In ancient times, the kinship and familial ties overshadowed romantic attachments, reflecting a communal orientation. The transition to feudalism and eventually to bourgeois capitalist society redefined these relationships, associating love with property and possessiveness. This historical perspective serves as a critique of how love has been manipulated to serve the interests of different classes over time.
Challenging Bourgeois Ideals
Kollontai critiques the bourgeois conception of marriage that conflates love with ownership and personal possession. She advocates for a more liberated understanding of relationships that allows individuals to express warmth and emotional connection to multiple people. This perspective opens the door to exploring alternative forms of intimacy and community, countering the isolating effects of capitalist individualism. By envisioning love that is expansive and inclusive, Kollontai calls for a reevaluation of how personal relationships can contribute to collective well-being.
The Role of Comradeship
She introduces the concept of love comradeship, emphasizing emotional connections as essential to collective action and solidarity. For Kollontai, these relationships should extend beyond romantic partners to encompass the entire community, fostering a spirit of cooperation. This approach encourages individuals to engage emotionally with their comrades, thereby enhancing the collective's strength and unity. By cultivating a sense of shared emotional responsibility, the proletariat can challenge individualistic norms.
A Vision for Transformative Relationships
Kollontai's vision encompasses a transformation of love that aligns with the broader ideological aims of socialism. She envisions love as an organizing force capable of fostering sensitivity, understanding, and connectedness among individuals. In this new society, emotional fulfillment is not limited to romantic relationships but is expanded to include bonds forged in shared struggles and collective efforts. Her insights remain relevant, urging us to reflect on how contemporary relationships can contribute to a more compassionate and equitable world.
The ACFM gang gather for a springtime reading of a prototype acid-communist text by Russian revolutionary Alexandra Kollontai.
Download the text and follow along as Nadia, Keir and Jem get their teeth into Make Way for Winged Eros! A Letter to Working Youth, published in 1923.Check out the AK-47 podcast mentioned in this show: https://kristenghodsee.com/podcast
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