What do I do if my country has been neutered when it comes to left-wing activism? My only option for a party/org to join is a demsoc party which is seemingly pro EU and pro NATO. What do I do? Should i just focus on bettering people’s material conditions by working for charities, try to make my own little group, or maybe something else?
There’s no way you’re the sole left person in your country. In order to stay sane I’d suggest finding where the others are.
People with left politics but no party outlet can usually be found in orgs that work to improve material conditions of the most exploited (homeless, refugees, sex workers). They are also typically involved in climate and anti antiwar protests so you can probably find them there. They also often get involved in municipal politics pushing to get the most left person elected possible. Check radical bookstores, screenings of radical films, etc.
You are not alone, and you can’t do anything by yourself.
If nothing else, you can form a mutual aid group of one. Make soup and sandwhiches and hand them out where they’re needed.
Sometimes all we can do is keep the fire lit and wait for better circumstances.
You don’t have to do “leftist” volunteer work. Join a charity that takes direct action towards bettering people’s material conditions and be vocal about your beliefs (when it doesn’t endanger you). You will eventually meet likeminded people
If there aren’t any, someone has to make one. (That’s you.)
That’s a little hard to believe, even the US has parties that at least pretend to be revolutionary, and within them there are people that genuinely are fighting for communism and trying to steer the party away from opportunism.
You surely know more about your country, but you should keep your eyes open for posters and stuff in the streets, there must be other like minded people as you. Even in the most reactionary capitalist regimes, capitalism itself is what breeds revolutionaries from material necessity alone.
If you can find like-minded people, not like a vanguard that you’re going to use to start a coup but enough people who are radical-ish/extreme progressives, then start a mutual aid org or similar community union sorta thing that addresses a major concern for your community and that is aligned to the politics of the people who you can find.
This might be student unionism, tenant unionism, a soup kitchen, anti-Zionist activism, anti-war activism, solidarity work etc.
If you can’t find enough like-minded people then you’re gonna have to make 'em lol – start a reading group and get involved in developing and shaping people’s class consciousness and their politics.
If there’s no legit ML party, even a small one, your goal should be to start one. To do so you need to find like minded folks (they do exist, you aren’t special) through whatever organizing means are available. You need to read a lot of the classic Leninists texts on party building from Lenin, Stalin, and Mao. And you may want to reach out to a party you align with in a nearby country for guidance.
try forming a reading group with people (or even just reading), if your country is really a dead end politically you can still potentially contribute in the future to communism by writing some theory, even bad theory might help the next marx sharpen their blade, young hegelian style
