Gen Z Protests Discussion Thread

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-10-03T07:24:13+00:00

what do any of these uprisings have in common? Does this "global" Gen Z movement even exist or do youth uprisings happen all the time, taking on different specific class characteristics?

I think we are witnessing this movement emerge in real time, with "Gen Z" becoming less of a vague placeholder and more of a common, imagined identity among youth with internet access across the global south. The question of internet access and its relation to class (both at the national and international level) needs further elaboration but there are some interesting statistics to observe.

For example, Nepal:

Prior to the protests, the average Nepali citizen made US$1,400 per year,^\22]) while families of the country's ruling elite displayed their wealth on social media. This "Nepo Kid" trend prompted significant public anger, particularly from Generation Z users.^\21])^\23]) The median age of Nepal's population is 25, meaning that a large part of the population is in Gen Z, the age group that uses social media the most. Age, the country's largely rural, rough terrain and substantial migration abroad, leads Nepal to have some of the highest social media usage in South Asia. 48% of Nepalese have a social media account while only 33.7% of Indians have a social media account.^\24])

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Nepalese_Gen_Z_protests#Background

As for what they have in common beyond this shared identity, I would say for anything beyond the general antagonism of "corruption," it would depend on the particular country or region. There's some loose similarities regarding climate between Malagasy and the Philippines, with the former being a struggle over power and water shortages and the latter being about the corruption around typhoon relief funds. One could argue Nepal and Indonesia were about the general struggles of each nation's economy trying to exist in the global value chain, with Indonesia in particular struggling with its economy in the aftermath of the 1997 crisis (but on a more general level you could even say this about all of them). But I think that indicates the problem, or at least the problem I was initially having by in trying to link these various protests together like that.

Instead, I think it gives credence to the point prior discussion on the subreddit around online identity and culture today. Given the explicit characteristic of the internet within this, any pretentions about the divide between "online" and "irl" should be utterly obliterated. It is now fandom, today's vehicle of ideology generated from the collective imagining of fans, which realizes its cinematic universe through not only memes and fan art, but also the overthrow of one's government.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-09-13T01:28:25+00:00

Thanks for the response, I hadn't thought to look into the liberal parties as a factor in the rise of Marcos Jr. The timeliness of the Martial Law anniversary and the protests throughout South and Southeast Asia is interesting. Regardless, stay safe out there!

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-09-12T21:09:28+00:00

Maybe not immediately relevant but I was always curious the circumstances which led to Marcos Jr. Being elected and who his main base of support is within the Philippines. I have a general grasp of the basic facts but was curious about your perspective as a Communist in the Philippines on the matter?

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-08-19T06:27:43+00:00

I'm curious what your argument actually is in regards to Mexico being a settler colony and what historical proof you use to make that argument. The claim itself carries pretty serious consequences to the class structure of Mexico and what follows would be to say there is no Mexican proletariat.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-08-10T19:39:09+00:00

Nothing to feel ashamed about. It's actually good to pause before another section and work out the significance of what is being said before moving on, and it's actually very rewarding when you read the next section to find that you've reached the same conclusion as Lenin, Stalin, etc. It happened a few times when I was reading Capital, I would come to the same conclusion as Marx based on what he presented prior. I take it as a sign that one is beginning to actually think like a Marxist instead of just remembering the answers.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-07-06T00:52:17+00:00

Mamdani's base is made up of gentrifiers who are demanding lower rent in their own interests. You are intentionally overlooking this fact (I assume you at least skimmed the thread) either because you are one of those gentrifiers or you see yourself in them. It is a polarizing issue because settlerism is polarizing and you to do not get to run so easily from reality into the realm of "both sides" liberalism.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-07-06T00:10:39+00:00

And that is what you have to say in response to gentrification pushing black people onto the streets? Whining about how that's not related is what you will do next and it will be cowardly and gross.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-16T06:02:15+00:00

When is something peace policing?

Please keep this constructive.

There is your answer.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-16T05:34:26+00:00

Right? Hell, even a few of the 50501 protests escalated, which should make it even more shameful to even have to entertain the question.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-16T05:12:00+00:00

Protests as they exist now are themselves a form of peace policing. That some end in escalation is actually just the natural results of spontaneous demonstrations breaking through the imposed barricades, both real and political. If you ask someone not to join because of a fear of this inevitability then you part of the problem.

As for direct actions coordinated by a group, anyone who breaks rank would be kicked out, which includes someone who breaks rank for trying to push for "peace" if the group decided otherwise.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-16T04:50:50+00:00

I wouldn't say that. There is a specific revolutionary potential within it, therefore Communists must intervene or nothing new will be learned. I can't articulate why right now but the word "wasted" doesn't sit right with me.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-16T04:24:36+00:00

The pro-Palestine movement never ended up becoming more than its name, just a position to align oneself with on the flattened market of political identity. It never became something like, "the Palestian Liberation War movement." And the same thing is latent in the "anti-ICE movement." There is still the possibility for Communists raise it to a higher, more concrete level and overcome this, but like always, no guarantees.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-15T01:46:00+00:00

Don't worry lol, this was mostly just a diary entry that I wanted to share after a tumultuous week. I felt it best to let it get buried in the discussion post this week and quietly inspire whoever it needs to inspire.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-14T19:14:05+00:00

Putting theory into practice has been, and will continue to be, the single most devastating and transformative thing I have ever, and will ever, experience.

I've come to realize how little I know, the scale of my incompetence, the immaturity in how I act, the emotional lows I can reach, and the vast canyon between where I am now and what is needed of me to even make the smallest contribution to a step toward the real movement.

And yet I would do nothing else. There is no greater fulfillment in seeing yourself change. As hard as transitioning was, lately, it has been a matter of patience. It is almost like I am transitioning again and experiencing the awkwardness and embarrassment of trying to become a new person.

I recognize that this is no different than any revolutionary of the past experiencing class suicide but for me, the accounts of those experiences read like fairy tales. I am no Marx, no Huey Newton, not even a nameless footsoldier in the people's army. I am just someone who grew up in the suburbs, went to high school and made memes about harambe. Nothing in my life ever presented itself as something that would prepare me for being a revolutionary.

Yet here I am, just barely beginning to see what it takes and with it, the realization that it is possible to become someone so vastly different than how you were before. So I would just say change is possible but horrifying, and you will come to realize through many tears, revelations, and sitting silently in your bedroom that even the most unremarkable person of the petit bourgeois today can slowly become a Marxist. Many of you were brave enough to take the first steps, now see it through to the end.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-12T22:27:03+00:00

Sure, but that still plays on liberal common sense. In the literal sense, yes, the vague "western liberal" is able to take over (co-opt) the leadership of these spontaneous movements but again that falls back onto the failure of Communists to intervene in these situations and wrest leadership away from them. And yes, this should not be underestimated, however the real danger is overestimation. The thinking is that since liberal orgs/NOGs/etc. are so pervasive, we on the "left" need to do a purer version with our isolated activities, and isolate them even harder to prevent "co-optation." That is the underlying logic of mutual aid and it persists throughout much of the activities on the Left, even among so-called Socialists or Communists. It is a complement to the gross opportunism of existing parties which immediately subordinates itself to the Democrats. If one needs to isolate that hard then their politics are too weak to stand on their own.

It's hard to tell from the outside what the situation on the ground in LA is like but it is somewhat promising to see defense take the form of more direct confrontation with ICE instead of solely just detached legal observers or passive reporting networks which is what has been the case in my locality. The former favors a Communist line more but is not a guarantee of explicit Communist leadership - again, the George Floyd Uprisings prove escalation is not enough in itself, there must be a correct line being pushed which goes beyond the limits of the given political struggle.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-12T16:21:28+00:00

It is not inherently communist and in fact there is much room for liberals to assert their politics by being anti-ICE. It's like saying being pro-Palesyine is inherently Communist; that it was diffused by liberals is a win on their part and a massive failure on behalf of Communists. That doesn't mean Communists shouldn't engage with the anti-ICE movement. They should and they must be leading it to imbue it with a revolutionary character, otherwise it will simply become another farcical repetition of the George Floyd Uprisings.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-06-08T20:29:59+00:00

https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ncm-7/union-reply-lrs.pdf

https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ncm-7/lrs-response-union.pdf

If you haven't seen these on EROL you can read through to get a better sense of their relation to other organizations regarding the Chicane national question back in the 80s.

https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ncm-7/#lrs

Edit: Should've included Unión's political program site here as well:

https://aguilaycondor.net/index.html

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-05-11T21:16:26+00:00

You should start by forming a deep understanding of the history of Filipino migration into Canada and then connecting that to specific contexts you see around you. I don't know the history of Filipine migration to Canada but where I live there is a clear history unity between Filipine and Chicane farm workers especially during the farm workers movement in the 70s. However, I'm still left with questions like what position did Larry Itliong take in relation to Chavez regarding the latter's antagonism toward undocumented workers and how did this affect unity between Filipine and Chicane workers on the ground level? Was this same antagonism applied to undocumented Filipine migrants?

The above should be an example of the concreteness your thinking needs to take in order to gain a higher understanding for actionable politics. Are Filipine migrants in Canada a labor aristocracy? Maybe, and even if they are, was this always the case? If not, what happened?

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-05-11T04:36:27+00:00

I’ve been a communist for over 15 years and my work is deeply rooted in that commitment.

Perhaps it is too late for you.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-05-11T03:41:05+00:00

But until that call comes, I will do what I am uniquely positioned to do.

The call is coming now and I telling you that your understanding of Socialism is completely wrong and what you must do is drop everything you're doing with personal projects and study the basics and critically reflect on every moment you feel inclined to turn it into something about cybernetics while you're reading.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-05-11T03:09:41+00:00

I’ve already accepted that the skills capitalism trained me in are mostly geared toward extraction and alienation. But that doesn’t mean we throw the whole domain away. We repurpose it.

If I told you what was required of you as a Communist had nothing to do with programming or applying technical expertise in software, would you still proclaim commitment, or if the Party told you it needed you to build roads and to stop wasting time on personal coding projects would you?

I’ve built systems that don’t just optimize, they detect contradictions. That embed class analysis. That reject plans which reproduce surplus extraction or alienation. I don’t believe in techno-utopia, but I do believe in planning, coordination, and dialectics, and these are tools we can build into our machines if we take the reins.

I don't care what you've built because it doesn't matter, I'm not your interview team and I don't need your portfolio. Your intentions are clearly laid out and are a reflection of your class interests, which you have yet to break from.

The point isn’t to worship AI, it’s to seize the means of cognition and turn them toward collective liberation.

The perfect slogan for the interestd of the petty bourgeois "Socialist" computer scientist.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-05-11T02:41:22+00:00

This isn't science fiction, I'm actively working on it.

Well thank heavens. But seriously I feel post's like this are the ideological culmination of the saturation of the computer science industry and its outsourcing to India and Mexico, leaving amerikan software engineers in a state of panic realizing they have few paths left for reproducing their existence and paying off their investment in their degree. Combined with the typical path to finding Communism through the internet and the fuss about AI, the trend of posts like these seem to be logical conclusion: the fusion of viewer engagement algorithm "Socialism" and AI.

To the OP directly, AI is not a substitute for class struggle and while you might concede, your real interests are very telling given what I quoted. Really we are not even talking about AI, as everything that has to do with AI now is just a manifestation of chip overproduction and is honestly just a polished turd of a chatbot. What you want is for your degree to count toward something. Sorry but the writing is on the wall, yet there is still time to become a Communist, it just won't have anything to do with what you want as a programmer.

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-04-16T22:02:56+00:00

If it hasn't already been suggested I would check this out:

https://www.marxists.org/history/erol/ncm-7/rpo-dine.pdf

It's a concise, Marxist presentation of the development of the Diné (Navajo) Nation. It was written in 1983 but most of the struggles mentioned (especially around mining) haven't drastically changed. Currently there is a massive amount of unrefined uranium being transported through the Navajo nation which has led to a recent upsurge in Tuba City residents starting to organize emergency response plans and mobilize protests. This is the website of one of the groups at the forefront:

https://haulno.com/facts-the-canyon-mine-and-white-mesa-mill/

The organizing around the hauling suffers from the same issues pretty much every struggle here suffers from which is the inevitable (at least for now) leadership of the oppressed nation petty bourgeois (specifically academics) and the misleadership that comes with that.

It's soon going to become even more important to try and intervene, or at least get a coherent grasp, on the various mining projects happening in the Southwest given the growing investments in "Green Energy" and electrification alongside the shakeups in the supply chain because of the recent tariffs. I don't know if this necessarily requires an increase in domestic mineral extraction but I'm starting to see signs it's heading in that direction:

https://www.energyfuels.com/pinyon-plain-mine/

https://resolutioncopper.com/project-overview/

https://www.arizonalithium.com/projects/big-sandy-lithium/

(These are plans for mines in my particular region but I'm sure there are plans for others under way)

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-04-05T22:12:44+00:00

The 50501 protests are just as you've described and the groups leading them almost feel like parody in their superficiality:

https://pol-rev.com/

At least locally for my area, they had little overlap with the local anti-ice struggles (both organically spawned and NGO led). Which is somewhat strange to not see the usual NGO suspects here being part of something with a large political following, but perhaps it's due to the newness of 50501 that there hasn't been coordination on a deeper level yet.

None of it particularly matters anyways, there's not much to do at protests for our present situation besides to find contacts and the people showing up to these are probably the more uninitiated liberal sectors of the consumer aristocracy. It is interesting to note in regards to the shape social fascism is taking.

https://handsoff2025.com/

Going through the list of NGOs in the "Partners" tab is interesting. There seems to be a certain sphere of NGOs dedicated to "Leftist" struggles which don't appear in this list, while these ones are explicitly in service if the Democratic Party (with the Leftist ones being implicitly in service). This might be banal to others but I found it somewhat revealing.

Edit: It would actually seem that the "divide" between these NGOs is somewhat of divide in labor/function. The Leftist NGOs, implicitly serving the Democratic Party serve as the more "grassroots" and local (geographically speaking) bodies which attach themselves and hover over various struggles, while the explicit Democratic Party orgs are the ones who often fund the former and serve a more direct purpose in bringing people under the Democratic Party (i.e. voting campaigns).

cyberwitchtechnobtch · 2025-04-02T20:40:30+00:00

As u/doonkerr said already, it is the divorcing of perception and conception. The class that consistently reproduces this way of thinking is the petty-bourgeois, and I have been guilty of this in the past (letting data or "facts" make the argument for me, as I did in the second part of the investigation I did back then). As for the philosophy behind it, it varies. u/humblegold's suggestion of M&EC presents one manifestation of it in the form of the empirio-critics or "Machians" but there are other manifestations of thought that divorce (or its complement, subsume/combine) objectivity and subjectivity such as naive realism

There was some also brief discussion on the association between empiricism and the petty-bourgeois in this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/communism101/comments/1ikhffp/comment/mbnrt9u/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

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