The Sanders campaign: Not an end
Though Bernie’s run is over, the movement was always what mattered most — and it will go on.
About a year ago, another member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and I were chatting about the prospects of Bernie Sanders’ presidential run. I told him I thought Bernie’s chances looked pretty good, given the crowded field of lackluster contenders, but I still had a hard time imagining him actually getting the nomination.
As a lifelong socialist, I’ve always been pessimistic about electoral politics. This skepticism is rooted in a basic understanding of the relationship between class and political power. The domination of democratic institutions by corporations and the wealthy elites means progress is only allowed insofar as it doesn’t clash with the interests of capital.
Nevertheless, I wholeheartedly supported the DSA’s decision to go all-in for Bernie, because I saw the campaign as a vehicle for socialist ideas. But to me, winning the presidency was always secondary to the larger goal of building a durable movement from the bottom up that could challenge this hegemony effectively.
But a miraculous thing happened: Bernie started winning, and my deep-seated cynicism gave way to guarded optimism. The slogan of the global left in the 21st century…
