Most communists aren’t going to be too critical of Russia in a discussion with western liberals about Russia’s issues because those liberals only understand those criticisms as “russia bad, therefore imperialism good”. Same with discussing LGBT+ rights in Palestine or Iran without a bunch of context.
Generalize much? No, most of the liberal leaning folk in the discussions did not view imperialism as good and were happy just as happy to be critical of US and EU imperialism as much as they were of Russia’s and China’s.
I should get around to reading it one of these days. What did you find objectionable? Just skimming it seems like he’s mostly going though historical documents and people that contributed to Stalin’s reputation in the west.
It’s hard to pin down; I think it was a kind of overarching effort at both-sidesism. To be fair, I didn’t finish it, so maybe he tied it all together in the end.
Except that does not happen. Russian sources that make Russia look good and Ukraine look bad are accepted while the opposite is never the case.
Could it be a sampling bias?
Most communists aren’t going to be too critical of Russia in a discussion with western liberals about Russia’s issues because those liberals only understand those criticisms as “russia bad, therefore imperialism good”. Same with discussing LGBT+ rights in Palestine or Iran without a bunch of context.
Generalize much? No, most of the liberal leaning folk in the discussions did not view imperialism as good and were happy just as happy to be critical of US and EU imperialism as much as they were of Russia’s and China’s.
So here we’re using different definitions of liberalism.
Here’s a book on what liberalism has meant over the last 300 years. It’s only 344 pages and one of my favorites.
Good for you. People on hexbear label anything outside of Marxism or Maoism liberal…unless it deals with Russia or China.
That’s not true, they call marxists and maoists liberals like all the time.
Oh yeah, the Stalin-apologist communist is definitely an impartial source.
Oh you read his Stalin: The History and Critique of a Black Legend?
I should get around to reading it one of these days. What did you find objectionable? Just skimming it seems like he’s mostly going though historical documents and people that contributed to Stalin’s reputation in the west.
If you want a more nuanced view, Life and Terror in Stalin’s Russia is pretty good. I’d hardly call it Stalin apologia.
It’s hard to pin down; I think it was a kind of overarching effort at both-sidesism. To be fair, I didn’t finish it, so maybe he tied it all together in the end.