The European Union. I used to think it was a somewhat flawed but reformable stepping stone to a more just and strong European (liberal) democracy. After becoming a Marxist it seems obvious now it is a neoliberal power structure with some pro’s for the common people (Schengen Area), but so many more ways for the ruling class to get their way (that same Schengen Area facilitating cheap labor and trade).
While a socialist pan-European organization would be amazing, it is laughable to think the EU is just slightly flawed or even reformable into this. Like parliamentary politics itself, the EU has some limited uses as a platform to us socialists and anti imperialists (Clare Daly, Mick Wallace), but limited they truly are due to its inherent neoliberal nature. State and Revolution was a great book that really put me into the ML view on Marxism, and taught me that existing power structures like the EU can not be reformed to serve the working class.
It’s a neoliberal hellhole with plenty of cryptofascists and racists who feel way too comfortable spreading their hate and stupidity.
They still call the Palestinian genocide the “War between Hamas and Israel”. Tells you enough, especially considering the soon to be former prime minister will likely be the next NATO chairman.
Hilariously the country has always seen itself as a place of tolerance, but that’s as much of a lie as the American Dream spiel. It’s a racist hateful ignorant majority that shift the superstructure noticeably to the right every year, and protests are brutally suppressed. So much for the free west.