My point is that, since the question is phrased in terms of individuals (“western leftists,” rather than “western leftist organizations”), the correct answer is that it depends on the person because there are clearly many real leftists out there, even if overall the organizations are bad. I think hyperbole here is unhelpful, especially on this topic, because it undermines being able to usefully analyze our circumstances in a way that gives us actionable information (i.e. it’s effectively anti-organization because it is such a blanket condemnation of people here).
I understand your point, and I agree that solidarity at the individual level depends on the person, there are certainly genuine leftists in the West. My comment was deliberately hyperbolic to emphasize the structural problem: as long as the broader organizations/movement fail to take themselves seriously and allow opportunists to dominate, abstract solidarity with individuals is largely ineffective and irrelevant. The hyperbole isn’t meant to condemn every individual, but to highlight the material reality that weak structures undermine revolutionary goals and the movement as a whole. Occasional cooperation is possible when interests align, but that is materially different from sustained, principled solidarity.
My point is that, since the question is phrased in terms of individuals (“western leftists,” rather than “western leftist organizations”), the correct answer is that it depends on the person because there are clearly many real leftists out there, even if overall the organizations are bad. I think hyperbole here is unhelpful, especially on this topic, because it undermines being able to usefully analyze our circumstances in a way that gives us actionable information (i.e. it’s effectively anti-organization because it is such a blanket condemnation of people here).
I understand your point, and I agree that solidarity at the individual level depends on the person, there are certainly genuine leftists in the West. My comment was deliberately hyperbolic to emphasize the structural problem: as long as the broader organizations/movement fail to take themselves seriously and allow opportunists to dominate, abstract solidarity with individuals is largely ineffective and irrelevant. The hyperbole isn’t meant to condemn every individual, but to highlight the material reality that weak structures undermine revolutionary goals and the movement as a whole. Occasional cooperation is possible when interests align, but that is materially different from sustained, principled solidarity.