Marxism, Anarchism, and the Power of Communist Imagination: Richard Gilman-Opalsky on Utopia and Revolution

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May 11, 2025

Richard Gilman-Opalsky, an author and philosopher from the University of Illinois at Springfield, delves into the power of utopian thinking and the intersections of Marxism and anarchism. He argues that communism is not a distant goal but is reflected in everyday acts of resistance and care. The conversation critiques the failures of liberal capitalism, emphasizes the significance of imagination in envisioning alternatives, and highlights the revolutionary potential of small, transformative actions in the face of modern challenges.

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INSIGHT

Practicality vs Imagination in Revolution

The demand for practicality in revolutionary politics historically reacts against revolutionary aims and misunderstands Marx's appreciation of philosophy and imagination.
Marxism must reject the reductionist view that opposes imagination and embrace the imagination as a material struggle resource.

INSIGHT

Communism as a Process, Not a State

Communism is the active process that abolishes the present state of things, not a fixed stable state or ideology.
This understanding combats ideological misrepresentations and continues the 21st-century struggle against Cold War misconceptions.

INSIGHT

Integrating Anarchism into Marxism

Marxism needs to integrate anarchist insights to overcome false ideological incompatibilities.
Appreciating small-scale revolutionary acts, not just world-historical ones, revives a richer understanding of communism.

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