ABSTRACT
The politics of identity, of gender, race, ethnicity and environment are significant and are connected to why capitalism has remained effectively unchallenged. The strengths and weaknesses that exist in social movement politics and the limitations to effecting fundamental change that become evident when issues of ideological leadership become diffused need elaboration.
The central role of the working class in anti-capitalist movements has been downplayed by many contemporary Marxist theorists and particularly since the 1960s with the rise of identity politics and the development of new forms of social movement activism. Recent iterations of Marxist theory have shifted emphasis away from the role of the working class, focusing rather on the middle class as a force for change.
The ‘new’ social movements have repeatedly shown a capacity to mobilise large numbers, but a tendency toward dissipation and retreat. This is often due to the lack of ideological clarity and scope of these movements. Regardless of possible success of non-class movements, no threats to the rule of capitalism have emerged, and nor could they be expected to emerge under such conditions.
