Ultras tend to do that, as do socdem reformist apologists for empire who style themselves as on the left, but they do it for different reasons. These terms exist for a reason. For example, an ultra is much closer to being an ML than a soc dem is. Ultras can be a problem because of wanting purity that doesn’t exist, while reformists can be a problem because of being unwilling to do fundamental change. The ultras may cry betrayal when a revolution attempts strategic retreat, as described here: https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/03/tactical-retreats-why-venezuelas-revolution-still-stands/ (under the section “Negotiation under gunpoint: Brest-Litovsk in the Caribbean”). The reformists are more apt to be ones who are opposing revolution entirely and siding with the established order.
These are different kinds of issues. One is more of an internal issue in a revolutionary formation from people who are readily willing to do revolutionary work and step into danger but expect too much and lose sight of dialectical grounding. The other is more of an external issue from people who think the system can be changed from within and resist overthrow. In the west’s case, there is a problem in general with organizing getting past electoralism/reform brain.
Ultras tend to do that, as do socdem reformist apologists for empire who style themselves as on the left, but they do it for different reasons. These terms exist for a reason. For example, an ultra is much closer to being an ML than a soc dem is. Ultras can be a problem because of wanting purity that doesn’t exist, while reformists can be a problem because of being unwilling to do fundamental change. The ultras may cry betrayal when a revolution attempts strategic retreat, as described here: https://peoplesdispatch.org/2026/03/03/tactical-retreats-why-venezuelas-revolution-still-stands/ (under the section “Negotiation under gunpoint: Brest-Litovsk in the Caribbean”). The reformists are more apt to be ones who are opposing revolution entirely and siding with the established order.
These are different kinds of issues. One is more of an internal issue in a revolutionary formation from people who are readily willing to do revolutionary work and step into danger but expect too much and lose sight of dialectical grounding. The other is more of an external issue from people who think the system can be changed from within and resist overthrow. In the west’s case, there is a problem in general with organizing getting past electoralism/reform brain.