French Marches: Eduardo Castilla on Revolutionary Optimism

In an essay, “French March”: The Right to Revolutionary Optimism", Eduardo Castilla writes, "Evoking memories of ’68, the students enter the fight against Macron. In our chaotic world, the future can only be built in the streets."

He quotes Trotsky's 1939 commentary, "Both of them, Coulondre and Hitler, represent the barbarism which advances over Europe. At the same time neither of them doubt that their barbarism will be conquered by socialist revolution. Such is now the awareness of the ruling classes of all the capitalist countries of the world. Their complete demoralization is one of the most important elements in the relation of class forces (…) these gentlemen are convinced in advance of the collapse of their regime! This fact alone must be for us the source of invincible revolutionary optimism!"

Castilla concludes. "On this chaotic planet, the streets of France offer a promise of the future. At workplaces, schools, and universities, the French March defends the right to an invincible revolutionary optimism."

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Revolutionary optimism is an approach to activism and social change that has its roots in Marxist theory. At its core, it is a belief in the possibility of a better world that can be achieved through the collective struggle of the working class against the oppressive forces of capitalism.

Marxist thinkers like Antonio Gramsci and Leon Trotsky emphasised the need for revolutionary optimism as a way to confront the challenges of the present and envision a more just and equitable future. Gramsci coined the phrase "pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will" to emphasize the importance of recognizing the realities of the present while remaining committed to the struggle for a better future.

Read More on "Pessimism of the Intellect, Optimism of the Will"

Trotsky, for his part, believed that revolutionary optimism was essential for the success of socialist movements. He argued that without a deep belief in the possibility of transformation, activists and organizers would be unable to sustain the necessary energy and commitment to bring about lasting change.

Contemporary writers like Danny Haiphong and Yanis Iqbal have also emphasized the importance of revolutionary optimism in the present day. Haiphong, for example, has argued that revolutionary optimism is necessary to confront the multiple crises facing society, while Iqbal has written about the spirit of revolutionary optimism in the face of neoliberalism.

Overall, revolutionary optimism is a core aspect of Marxist thought, emphasizing the importance of a critical understanding of the present and a hopeful and committed vision for the future, rooted in the possibility of transformative social change.

Read More From Optimists on their Optimism

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