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Power, Class Struggle, Liberation

Power

Queen of Hearts: “Off with the head!”

Cheshire Cat: "We're all crazy here. I'm crazy. You're crazy."

Queen of Hearts: “Punishment comes before judgment.”

Alice: “I don’t think I want to follow you.”

Maximilien Robespierre: “The secret of freedom lies in education, the secret of power in oppression.”

Our new topic was suggested by Klaus in the last Denksyndikat.

What power are you afraid of? We will briefly examine different forms of power and focus on “power through knowledge” and “knowledge sovereignty”. In this context, you can win a digital prepper and freedom tool.

Michel Foucault has studied the relationship between knowledge and power in detail. He argues that power operates through discourses: systems of knowledge and language that determine what is "true" or "normal."

Antonio Gramsci is best known for his theory of cultural hegemony in which he describes how the state and the ruling capitalist class - the bourgeoisie - use cultural institutions to maintain wealth and power in capitalist societies. In Gramsci's view, the bourgeoisie develops a hegemonic culture by using ideology rather than violence, economic power or coercion.

Antonio Gramsci, around 1920

class struggle

On December 4, 2024, Luigi Mangione allegedly executes insurance executive Brian Thompson with a pistol in New York City, and a large community admires and worships him.

Quelle: https://imgur.com/gallery/i-want-to-believe-this-is-true-RtgG2Ge

Source: https://imgur.com/gallery/i-want-to-believe-this-is-true-RtgG2Ge

The term class is considered outdated, today we speak of complex milieus – or has the category 'class' and the associated 'class struggle' become relevant again following increasing polarization?

Fahrrad mit Dutschkes Aktentasche am Ort des Attentats; Foto: PolizeiBerlin - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0

Bicycle with Dutschke's briefcase at the scene of the assassination attempt; Photo: PolizeiBerlin – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

On April 11, 1968, the young laborer Josef Bachmann carried out an assassination attempt in front of the office of the Socialist German Student Union (SDS) on Kurfürstendamm. He shouted "You dirty communist pig!" and fired three times at Rudi Dutschke. He hit Dutschke twice in the head and once in the left shoulder. Dutschke suffered serious brain injuries and only narrowly survived thanks to an operation lasting several hours at the Westend Clinic.

Josef Bachmann was sentenced to seven years in prison for attempted murder. Rudi Dutschke wrote him several letters in which he stressed that he had no personal grudge against him and tried to persuade him to support socialist commitment. Nevertheless, Bachmann took his own life in prison on February 24, 1970, after several previous attempts. Dutschke deeply regretted his death and noted in his diary: "He represented the domination of oppressed people [...] the fight for liberation has only just begun; unfortunately Bachmann can no longer take part in it."

Protestas en Chile de 2019, Plaza Baquedano, Santiago, Chile; Foto: Carlos Figueroa

Protests in Chile de 2019, Plaza Baquedano, Santiago, Chile; Photo: Carlos Figueroa

The protests in Chile in 2019 included a large number of demonstrations that originated in Santiago de Chile and other cities across the country. They were triggered by an increase in public service costs, which increased discontent over social inequality in the country.

What initially began as a reaction to these price increases soon developed into a broader movement demanding profound reforms of the economic system and a redesign of the constitution. In contrast to the school and student protests in 2011-2012, this wave of protests found broad support among the entire population.

Was this a successful revolution? A successful class struggle?

What happened since then:

successes of the protests

1st constitutional reform:

One of the key successes of the protests was the decision to replace the Pinochet-era constitution with a new one. In October 2020, the population voted overwhelmingly in favor of constitutional reform in a referendum. This move was seen by many as a victory for the social movement and a symbol of progress towards greater social justice.

However, the first draft constitution was later rejected in another referendum in September 2022, showing that there are obstacles to implementing the reforms.

2. Change in consciousness:

The protests have brought social inequality and dissatisfaction with the neoliberal economic system into focus. These issues have since become central points of political debate in Chile.

3. Political Dynamics:

The movement led to the election of Gabriel Boric as president in 2021, a former leader of the student protests who advocates social reforms and the fight against inequality.

limits of success

1. Economic and social inequality:

Despite the protests and political promises of reform, many of the fundamental problems such as unequal distribution of wealth, inadequate pension systems and lack of access to education and health care persist.

2. Division in the population:

The rejection of the first draft of the constitution shows that there was no uniform support for the proposed reforms. Parts of the population were concerned about the radical nature of the changes or felt that they were not sufficiently represented.

3. Structural challenges:

Changing deeply rooted economic and political structures is a long-term process. A one-off protest is often not enough to completely overcome them.

liberation

Freedom and emancipation. Revolution and social movement. Liberation and responsibility… yes, but in the end we are looking for inspiration for individual liberation: from inner constraints, social role expectations, ideological manipulation, laziness, fear and habit…

What is the freest and most comfortable version of yourself?