Depends a lot on where you live. In many countries, communism is simply considered “radical/violent” rather than “authoritarian”, and one is not considered a leftist of any sort unless they defend a leftist stance on the economy (progressive views on social issues may not be described as leftist everywhere).
The “authoritarian” left is just the framework of every revolution that actually won. There is a very special kind of Western detached romantic chauvinist “left” that believes only in failed and failing pure leftism and tragedy and is shocked and outraged at what it means to win, to establish defenses, to keep a nation or nations running.
There is no liberal left. Liberals are the mainstream political and are by definition conservative under global capitalism.
The authoritarian left and the liberal left have so little in common that it’s frustrating the term “left” encompasses both.
Depends a lot on where you live. In many countries, communism is simply considered “radical/violent” rather than “authoritarian”, and one is not considered a leftist of any sort unless they defend a leftist stance on the economy (progressive views on social issues may not be described as leftist everywhere).
The “authoritarian” left is just the framework of every revolution that actually won. There is a very special kind of Western detached romantic chauvinist “left” that believes only in failed and failing pure leftism and tragedy and is shocked and outraged at what it means to win, to establish defenses, to keep a nation or nations running.
There is no liberal left. Liberals are the mainstream political and are by definition conservative under global capitalism.