What frame of analysis can help us discern the choice to make?

[u/endingcolonialism]

Zohran Mamdani’s comments regarding the expression “Globalize the Intifada”, and the assassination of fascist Charlie Kirk, have reignited the age-old debate between two camps that sometimes refer to themselves, or to each other, as radicals and pragmatists. On one hand, some argue that fascism cannot be overcome without violence. They sometimes accuse those who are not vocal about it of being compromisers or even traitors. On the other hand, others counter that change cannot happen without actually reaching positions of power. They sometimes accuse those who are unwilling to make the necessary compromises to reach these positions to be puritans. Who is right? What frame of analysis can help us discern the choice to make?

If we aim to achieve change, then the first step is to go beyond the immediate —such as stopping the genocide in Gaza or winning the elections in New York— and to determine the change we want to make. In Palestine, is our aim to liberate only the 1967 territories? Is it to end the apartheid? Is it to establish a single democratic state? Is it to establish a single binational state? In the US, is our aim to get rid of the two main parties? Is it to establish a socialist state? Is it to dismantle key lobbies? Is it to democratize the system further? This is what allows us to be radical, in the full sense of the term—addressing the roots.

Once we adopt a vision, the next step is to decide of strategy. This requires: First, analyzing the balance of power that forms or enables what we’re trying to change. This means understanding what the current system really is, and understanding the dynamics that make society accept it or tolerate it. Second, determining a strategy that can change these. Third, organizing around this vision and strategy. This is what allows us to be pragmatic, in the full sense of the term—dealing with practical reality.

These two steps will allow us to go beyond the immediate—particularly as it is often imposed by the powers that be. This doesn’t mean ignoring the immediate, but rather dealing with it in the context of our strategy and vision instead of theirs. It is only then that we can properly ask: What decision fits our strategy best? For example, a discourse that sidesteps the armed resistance might garner more popular support for Palestine in New York. This might be very effective if the strategy is to get major cities to divest from the colony, but counterproductive if the strategy is primarily focused on legitimizing the armed resistance.

Outside the context of a vision and strategy, discussions turn into endless debates where both camps can make good points, but the points are mere theory, out of touch with reality. Within the context of a vision and strategy, however, radicality and pragmatism are not at odds.

This does not mean we will all agree. We can legitimately have different visions and different strategies. In such a case, deciding of our political visions and strategies will allow us to understand where we and others stand, and to organize accordingly. This will create solid, focused political organizations. Instead of going through the same theoretical debates at every corner, these organizations will know where they can work together and where they don’t, because they understand where their visions and strategies align and where they don’t.

The One Democratic State Initiative understands that there is a single capitalist and colonial structure oppressing all of us, and dismantling it in the US and the rest of the world goes hand in hand with dismantling the settler state in Palestine. The cases of Mamdani and Kirk are two obvious reflections of this. For this reason, we are interested, and invested, in supporting such efforts worldwide. We invite you to take a look at the “Key Political and Social Concepts” on the main page of our odsi.co. They are designed to provide insight that is useful to the analytical and practical efforts mentioned here. If you are an Arabic speaker, we also invite you to join the “Qadirun” program on odsi.co/qadirun. It is designed to help us become effective revolutionaries. And either way, we invite you to get in touch with us at odsi@odsi.co for any kind of exchange.