11 Points of Chaos Marxism | A New Approach to Sparking Socialist Change

Reading List of Foundational Texts Bell Riots 2024 - Capitalism is on a Timer

In the midst of a climate crisis, we stand at a critical crossroads. The last three weeks have been the hottest in the last 100,000 years - a chilling testament to our accelerating climate catastrophe. Our planet, ravaged by the relentless expansion of capitalism and its insatiable desire for growth, cries out for relief. As we grapple with these unprecedented challenges, it is imperative that we reconsider and radically restructure our societal frameworks. The solution, as I propose, lies in a revolutionary synthesis of thought: Chaos Marxism.

Chaos Marxism is a novel fusion of Marxist principles - founded on notions of class struggle and economic justice - with the adaptive, transformative strategies drawn from chaos magic. However, it's critical to clarify that Chaos Marxism, while influenced by the flexible thinking of postmodernists such as Austin Osman Spare, has no supernatural or occult connections, and is thoroughly secular in nature. It is a 'post-' postmodernist ideology, in that it takes the framework of chaos magic, and just as chaos magicians stripped away the symbolic and ritualistic aspects of traditional occultism, Chaos Marxists eliminate the metaphorical and ornamental aspects, focusing instead on applying the fundamental, raw tactics to propagate Marxist thought.

The ideology also resonates with the subversive cultural critique found in the work of Mark Fisher, particularly his concept of Acid Communism - the proposal to harness collective psychedelic experiences and shared joy as a means of countering the isolating individualism entrenched by capitalism.

At its core, Chaos Marxism challenges the status quo, rejecting the idea of capitalist structures as immutable truths and proposing them as manipulable constructs. It recognizes that these structures can, and must, be reshaped to foster a more equitable, collective, and sustainable future.

Chaos Marxism is more than a philosophy; it is a call to arms. It aims to serve as a unifying framework of praxis, an effort to consolidate the often splintered factions within the leftist spectrum - Marxists, anarchists, and other progressive thinkers. It is a stark warning, stating unequivocally that unless we stand united and act swiftly and radically, the future looks dire.

Despite the sobering diagnosis, Chaos Marxism offers hope. It suggests that by employing its flexible and subversive strategies, we have the capacity to instigate rapid, radical systemic change. It seeks to bridge the divides within leftist discourse, focusing collective attention on the urgent need for a monumental societal transformation.

This call for change, however, does not advocate for violent disruption. Chaos Marxism champions a non-violent yet assertive approach. It underscores the importance of winning the 'hearts and minds' of the working class, utilizing the power of collective belief to ignite change.

Outlined below are the eleven principles of Chaos Marxism. These principles serve not merely as academic observations, but as a crucial blueprint for systemic revolution. If embraced and propagated, they hold the potential to catalyze swift and groundbreaking transformations. Further, I extend an invitation to fellow thinkers to build upon these concepts, for it is through collective dialogue and action that we can hope to chart a path towards a sustainable, equitable future.

Chaos Marxism is more than a theoretical proposal; it's an urgent plea for unified action. It's a resistance movement, a revolutionary blueprint, and a survival strategy. In this desperate hour, it might just be the radical change we need.

1) Rejection of Absolute Truth:

- Chaos Marxism, like chaos magic, rejects the notion of absolute truth. It considers all systems, not just occult ones, as arbitrary symbol-systems that derive their effectiveness solely from the practitioner's belief.

- This approach enables Chaos Marxists to question, disrupt, and reinterpret dominant narratives within capitalist societies. For example, they may challenge the perceived inevitability and "naturalness" of capitalist economic systems, promoting instead alternative modes of economic organization.

2) Postmodernism and Beyond:

- Chaos Marxism adopts and extends the blend of traditional occult techniques and applied postmodernism characteristic of chaos magic. It further incorporates post-truth techniques across all systems, relegating the occult to metaphorical usage. Thus, Chaos Marxism has no supernatural or occult connections, and is secular in nature.

- It exploits the multiplicity and relativism of postmodernism to question and subvert capitalist ideologies. For instance, by drawing attention to the cultural relativity of economic systems, it can encourage people to see capitalism as just one of many possibilities, rather than as an inescapable reality. Building upon this, a Chaos Marxist, instead of debating the validness of say, flat earth, might instead use the group think to subversively implant marxist rhetoric. The only "truth" a Chaos Marxist is worried about is the root "true belief" in a socialist revolution and an end to capitalism.

3) Belief as a Tool:

- Chaos Marxists, following chaos magicians, regard belief as a tool. They create idiosyncratic systems by borrowing from a range of sources - magical traditions, religions, popular culture, various philosophies, etc. The goal is to manipulate all systems to achieve specific ends, such as a Marxist revolution.

- This might involve repurposing popular cultural narratives or symbols to promote Marxist ideas. For example, a Chaos Marxist might reinterpret superhero stories as allegories of class struggle, encouraging readers to see them in a new light. A Chaos Marxist in a heavily Christian community might wrap their propaganda in a theology framework, even if they themselves so not believe. This goes for any community, belief, ideology, hobby, cultural frame work or other symbol system people use to define their conscious reality.

4) Stripping Away of Ornamental Aspects:

- Echoing the approach of chaos magicians, Chaos Marxists strip away the symbolic, ritualistic, theological, or other ornamental aspects of occult traditions. They focus instead on applying the most basic, raw tactics and principles to propagate Marxist thought.

- For instance, instead of using complex rituals, a Chaos Marxist might simply use a compelling meme or catchphrase that succinctly encapsulates a Marxist idea and disseminate it across social media platforms. The concept of a "sigil" becomes anything that can effectly spread socialist, progressive thought effectively. Marketing, advertising, these are systems, psychological manipulation tactics are at the root of chaos magick, and indeed too the root of Chaos Marxism.

5) Self-Sigilization/Revolutionary Suicide:

- This principle suggests that one who believes deeply in a cause (here, Marxist thought) can so thoroughly internalize it that they can consciously operate under any belief system and still maintain their core belief. Other beliefs thus become tools to further the true belief.

- A Chaos Marxist might, for example, participate in a forum dedicated to a seemingly unrelated topic (e.g., a hobbyist group), subtly introducing Marxist concepts into the discussion while ostensibly focusing on the forum's main subject, masking the socialist rhetoric with group think. This concept of "true belief" allows the Chaos Marxist to work in ethically ambiguous opportunist manner, while maintaining the subconscious moral driver of Marxism.

6) Subversion and Ethical Ambiguity:

- The potency of Chaos Marxism lies in its subversive and ethically ambiguous nature. It leverages the fragmentation and fluidity of truth in a post-postmodern reality, subtly shifting discourses and challenging the hegemony of capitalist realism.

- A Chaos Marxist might engage in activities like astroturfing, using botted accounts or the use of multiple personas online, creating an illusion of widespread support for Marxist ideas and thus encouraging others to consider them. A Chaos Marxist may use deep fake technology or AI voice synthesis to disrupt fascists as well as spread misinformation about their leaders.

7) Psychological Tactics:

- Chaos Marxism deploys a variety of post-modern psychological tactics, such as controlled opposition, disinformation, post-truth AI, manipulation tactics, covert sabotage, gaslighting, and the use of multiple personas. The aim is to sow doubt and confusion within capitalist structures while fostering Marxist, progressive thought as well as disrupting systems that oppose said thought.

- For instance, a Chaos Marxist might deliberately propagate disinformation about capitalist systems or engage in "trolling" behavior to disrupt online discussions that uncritically support capitalism. Chaos marxists might intentionally join opposition movements, seeking to covertly gather intel and cause internal fighting among members.

8) Extreme Opportunism, not Adventurism:

- Chaos Marxism emphasizes the importance of tactical flexibility and adaptability, exploiting opportunities as they arise rather than adhering to a rigid plan. This is about extreme opportunism, not reckless adventurism.

- For instance, a Chaos Marxist might seize upon a moment of public dissatisfaction with the status quo (such as during a recession or in the aftermath of a scandal involving big corporations) to introduce and promote Marxist perspectives. A Chaos marxist seeks to take advantage of situations, using them to further the cause, slander enemies or push socialist views out into the public sphere effectively. A Chaos Marxist might shift views in between debates if it suits their goals, maintain opposing positions, ort take up oppositional positions to discredit them.

9) Anti-Nihilism and Embracing Existentialism:

- While it rejects the notion of absolute truth, Chaos Marxism is not nihilistic. Instead, it embraces existentialism, valuing individual freedom, subjectivity, and the meaning that individuals create for their lives. Despite the use of belief as a tool, chaos Marxists must hold the "true belief" of the cause of the working class.

- A Chaos Marxist might, for example, emphasize the alienation and lack of fulfillment that many people experience in capitalist systems and present Marxist alternatives as offering greater potential for self-realization and authentic living.

10) Winning Hearts and Minds of the Working Class:

- The fundamental goal of Chaos Marxism is to win over the hearts and minds of the working class. By building empathy, understanding, and solidarity, it aims to foster a collective consciousness that can challenge capitalist realism.

- Tactics here might include narrative storytelling that highlights the experiences of workers, shared rituals or activities that build group identity, and the promotion of symbols and memes that encapsulate Marxist ideas in a way that is emotionally resonant for workers. Here is where more standard Marxist-Leninist organization and educational tactics come into play, Chaos Marxism does not seek to overshadow the critical role that these tactics play.

11) Non-Violent, Yet Non-Pacifistic Approach:

- While Chaos Marxism rejects violence as a primary means of achieving its goals, it is not pacifistic. It recognizes that conflict may be necessary in challenging the entrenched power structures of capitalism, but it places a high value on psychological, cultural, and discursive forms of resistance.

- For example, Chaos Marxists might engage in peaceful protests, strikes, or civil disobedience actions. They might also use satire, humor, and other forms of cultural critique to challenge capitalist ideologies and promote Marxist ideas. They could also deploy "hacktivist" tactics, using technology to disrupt capitalist institutions and spread Marxist messages. Finally, a Chaos Marxist understand the "ballot box" concept, knowing that once all ballot boxes have been fully utilized, only one remains.