Radical liberal
Radical liberal (abbreviated radlib) is a derogatory term most often used by communists and revolutionary socialists for center-left individuals who, while using some of the aesthetics and terminology of true socialism, advocate liberal reformism and other measures which are ultimately of no harm to the capitalist system. The term particularly applies to online personalities.
Radical liberals may deny the centrality of class struggle and instead engage in identity opportunism, failing to apply proper intersectionality. Similarly, they may fail to understand the systemic nature of racism, anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments, and other forms of bigotry and instead focus on policing individual acts of bigotry.
Instances
- Endorsing Joe Biden during the 2020 and 2024 presidential elections in the United States as "harm reduction," ignoring the collaboration between the Democrats and Republicans and their shared capitalist interests in fascism.
- Supporting Ukraine in the context of the Russo-Ukrainian War instead of advocating revolutionary defeatism.
- Endorsing the European Union due to its supposed internationalism while omitting its in-built neoliberal character and failing to perform an economic analysis on its true purpose — unimpeded movement of capital and laborers for the exploitation of Eastern European countries in semi-colonial relations.
- Calling for "defunding" and improvement of superficial regulations of the police instead of their total abolition.
Relationship to communism
Radical liberals are generally extremely anti-communist, viewing socialist states as "totalitarian", "state capitalist", "red fascist", etc.