Coming next week: “Capitalism and Climate Change: The Science and Politics of Global Warming”

Stephanie McMillan writes the foreword to Coming next week: “Capitalism and Climate Change: The Science and Politics of Global Warming”.

Capitalism is dynamic, resilient and adaptable — it won’t collapse on its own. Capitalists are ruthless and heavily militarized — they won’t let go of power easily. Our recognition of these sobering facts clarify our responsibilities. We need to build organizations at all levels: a broad mass movement to weaken and slow down capitalism’s destructiveness, along with revolutionary organizations working for its overthrow and for a viable alternative. The struggle against ecocide is an integral part of class struggle. It can only be won in the context of the fundamental struggle of the working class against exploitation, for emancipation, for the demise of capitalism.

Facing today’s environmental emergency may seem overwhelming and even terrifying, but we can’t let it defeat us before trying everything necessary to stop it. Nothing else we can do with our lives is more important. This is not a moment for passive resignation or paralysis of grief, but for summoning all our courage and determination for the difficult fight ahead.

Emphasis Mine

This dual level approach of broad mass movements and revolutionary party building is essential for the success of any Communist revolution. We must get large sections of the people active in the political process, and draw from them cadre who are able to develop their political consciousness faster the masses but still be able to relate to them.

As long as people see options, they will consider them. It is only there are no viable options that hopelessness sets in. This is why the Capitalists keep saying, “There is no alternative”. By expanding people's political consciousness, we can overcome this hopelessness by presenting more options to explore.