Toggle menu
Toggle personal menu
Not logged in
Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits.

Progressivism: Difference between revisions

From ProleWiki, the proletarian encyclopedia
Tag: Visual edit
the r-word, cmon
 
(3 intermediate revisions by one other user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
'''Progressivism''' is a political and social movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in response to the rapid industrialization and urbanization of the time. It is characterized by a belief in the ability of government and society to improve the lives of citizens through regulation, [[reform]], and [[social welfare]] programs.
[[File:French revolution painting.png|thumb|Painting of the [[French Revolution]], which advanced France from a [[Feudalism|feudal]] [[Monarchism|monarchy]] to a [[Bourgeois democracy|bourgeois-democratic republic]]]]
'''Progressivism''' refers to any ideology or movement that advances the [[class struggle]] and seeks to move society to a higher [[mode of production]].<ref>{{Library citation|link=Political Economy|quote=Marx's method consists of gradually ascending from the simplest of economic categories to more complex ones, which corresponds to the progressive development of society on an ascending line, from lower stages to higher.}}</ref>


Whether by [[Scientific socialism|science]], [[Productive forces|technology]], or [[Relations of production|relations to the means of production]], progressives seek to change the current [[structures of power]]. In a Marxist context this means supporting any revolutionary movements, electoral efforts as described by [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]], and opposing [[capitalism]], [[liberalism]], [[imperialism]], [[fascism]], [[monarchism]] and [[feudalism]]. Progressives often draw heavy influence from problem resolution in their art and stories. Something capitalism is incapable of delivering.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Nia Frome|newspaper=Red Sails|title=The Swerve|date=2021-01-27|url=https://redsails.org/the-swerve/|retrieved=2023-03-13}}</ref> In early period socialism, this led to the dominance of [[utopian socialism]] which has since been superseded by the modern [[scientific socialism]] movement. Progressives hold [[revolutionary optimism]] in high regard. This includes the veneration of [[class struggle]], [[class consciousness]], [[proletarian dictatorship]] and appeals to [[Secularism|secular]] humanism.
==Relation with liberalism==
Under [[capitalism]], [[Liberalism|liberals]] tend to oppose progressive action everywhere and show false sympathy with progressive thought. They are a common compliment to [[reactionary]] movements due to their ratchet-like behavior against left-wing movements.


One of the key examples of progressivism is the rise of the [[Progressive Era]] in the [[United States of America|United States]], which saw the implementation of various reforms such as the establishment of the [[Federal Reserve]], the creation of the [[Federal Trade Commission]], and the passing of the [[Clayton Antitrust Act]].<ref>https://www.history.com/news/gilded-age-progressive-era-reforms</ref> These measures aimed to regulate and control the excesses of [[corporations|big business]], as well as to protect the rights and interests of [[workers]] and consumers.
To quote [[Martin Luther King|MLK]],  


Another example of progressivism is the rise of the [[welfare state]] in [[Europe]], which saw the implementation of various social welfare programs such as [[universal healthcare]], old age pensions, and [[unemployment]] benefits. These measures aimed to provide a safety net for citizens, as well as to reduce [[poverty]] and inequality.
{{Quote|I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the [[white people|white]] moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the [[New Afrikans|Negro]]'s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the [[Ku Klux Klan|Ku Klux Klanner]], but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.


The origins of progressivism can be traced back to the late 19th century, when [[industrialization]] and urbanization led to the rise of a new working class. These groups were increasingly concerned about the negative effects of industrialization and urbanization on society, such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. As a result, they began to advocate for government intervention and reform in order to address these issues.
I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.|Martin Luther King|[[Library:Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail|Letter from Birmingham Jail]]}}


In contrast to the old progressivism, modern progressivism has shifted its focus towards issues such as [[climate change]], racial and gender equality, and economic inequality. This is due to the changing social and economic conditions of the 21st century, as well as the rise of new social movements such as [[Black Lives Matter]], [[MeToo|#MeToo]], and the Climate Strike.
In the above, he describes the ways in which [[United States of America|Statesian]] liberals hampered the development of Black Statesians' rights during the USA Civil Rights movement.


==Progressives and Liberalism==
== See also ==
Liberals tend to oppose progressive action everywhere and show false sympathy with progressive thought. They are a common compliment to reactionary movements due to their ratchet-like behavior against left-wing movements. 


To quote MLK,
* [[Revolution]]
 
{{Quote|I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.
 
I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.|Martin Luthor King|[[Library:Letter_from_Birmingham_Jail|Letter from Birmingham Jail]]}}
 
In the above, he describes the ways in which Statesian liberals retarded or otherwise hampered the development of black americans' rights during USA Civil Rights Movement era.


==References==
==References==
<references />
<references />
[[Category:Left-wing ideologies]]
[[Category:Left-wing ideologies]]

Latest revision as of 17:36, 30 January 2026

Painting of the French Revolution, which advanced France from a feudal monarchy to a bourgeois-democratic republic

Progressivism refers to any ideology or movement that advances the class struggle and seeks to move society to a higher mode of production.[1]

Relation with liberalism[edit | edit source]

Under capitalism, liberals tend to oppose progressive action everywhere and show false sympathy with progressive thought. They are a common compliment to reactionary movements due to their ratchet-like behavior against left-wing movements.

To quote MLK,

I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro's great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen's Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to "order" than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: "I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action"; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man's freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a "more convenient season." Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.

I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.

— Martin Luther King, Letter from Birmingham Jail

In the above, he describes the ways in which Statesian liberals hampered the development of Black Statesians' rights during the USA Civil Rights movement.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑
    “Marx's method consists of gradually ascending from the simplest of economic categories to more complex ones, which corresponds to the progressive development of society on an ascending line, from lower stages to higher.”

    Lev Gatovsky, I. I. Kuzminov, Ivan Laptev, Lev Leontyev, Konstantin Ostrovityanov, Anatoly Pashkov, V. I. Pereslegin, Dmitri Shepilov, Vladimir Starovsky, Pavel Yudin (1954). Political Economy. MIA.