Rev Left Radio [BEST OF] Politics in Command: Analyzing the Error of Economism
May 17, 2025
J. Moufawad Paul, a philosophy professor at York University, dives into his book, 'Politics in Command: A Taxonomy of Economism.' He explores the pitfalls of economism, critiquing how it prioritizes economics over essential political engagement. Discussion includes Lenin's insights on labor dynamics, the significance of a communist vanguard, and challenges within modern China. Paul emphasizes redefining class consciousness and learning from past revolutionary failures to strengthen future movements.
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Defining Economism's Core Error
- Economism prioritizes economic struggles assuming they lead spontaneously to revolution without political direction.
- Lenin critiqued this, emphasizing the necessity of political struggle over mere economic focus.
Integrate Politics in Economic Struggle
- Support economic struggles like union efforts, but always approach them through a communist political lens.
- Avoid being absorbed into economism by failing to put politics in command of economic struggles.
Economism Is a Default Organizing Norm
- Economism is a normative, default opportunism in organizing within imperialist metropoles.
- It manifests as focusing on trade unions, fearing overt communist politics, or simplistic slogans promoting economic focus over politics.