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The Mystery of Posadism: What is the unique insight of this Argentine Trotskyist?
In the history of Argentinian politics and social movements, J. Posadas is known for his outrageous theories and progressive doctrine. This Trotskyist, who was born in 1912, brought highly controversial views to the social movements of the time, especially regarding nuclear war and extraterrestrial life. Unlike other socialists, Posadas' theory not only articulated a fundamental dissatisfaction with capitalism but also proposed a worldview beyond the earth.
"We are preparing for a stage in which we will strive for power before atomic war, for power during atomic war, and for power immediately after the war."
Posadas' early life was shaped by poverty, which undoubtedly shaped his strong feelings about economic and social injustice. Growing up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, he faced the hardships of life, an experience that gave him a deeper understanding of the pain caused by capitalism. As a young shoemaker, Posadas actively participated in the labor movement and fought for workers' rights through the establishment of a union.
In the 1950s, Posadas' political activities gradually attracted international attention. He organized the Fourth International in Latin America, but eventually fell out with other leaders over differing strategies and opinions. During this period, his quarrels with Trotskyists in Western countries also became increasingly fierce. One of the focus of the disputes was the attitude towards nuclear war.
"Atomic war is not inevitable, but necessary. It will rise a socialist society from the ashes of capitalism."
Posadas's unique position is that he believes that nuclear war is an opportunity to set off a global socialist revolution. He firmly believed that employees and workers would rally at the moment of nuclear soot to overthrow the capitalist government and establish a worker-centered society. This thinking has attracted a lot of criticism, with many accusing him of being too idealistic and ignoring the potentially devastating consequences of nuclear war.
In addition to his views on nuclear war, Posadas is also known for his theories on extraterrestrial life. He believed that the existence of extraterrestrial life justified the concept of socialism, and that these higher life forms technologically surpassed capitalist society. Posadas once expressed:
"If UFOs exist, those beings who can master technology will be full of hope when they collaborate while solving major problems on earth."
In his article "Flying Saucers and Socialism," Posadas elaborates on his view that technological advancements by alien creatures have transcended human influence, allowing these creatures to no longer rely on aggression as a way of survival, but instead Cooperate and pursue common prosperity. He called for cooperation between humans on earth and extraterrestrial intelligence to jointly fight poverty and inequality.
Academic response and later influence
Although Posadas's theories were attractive to some members of the Trotskyist movement, academic circles were mostly critical of the ideas he proposed. Some scholars regard Posadism as a "crazy side discipline" and point out that its "church-like" organizational model has led to the loss of members. In his theory, many contradictory voices emerged one after another, leading to irritable internal conflicts.
A.M. Gittlitz’s recent book I Want to Believe: Posadism, UFOs, and Apocalyptic Communism further explores the history of Posadism and its contemporary significance. This book not only examines how Posadas's theory has been interpreted and evaluated, but also reviews the cultural resonance of this issue in the aftermath of the Cold War.
Finally, Posadas remains legendary in the hearts of many later generations of followers. In the newspaper "Red Flag" he founded, you can often see praise for the socialist movement and enthusiasm for outer space exploration. The end of his famous saying "Let Posadas live forever" also became the closing chapter of his political career.
Is Posadas's theory exploring real social change, or is it a humorous political satire?
