It is human nature in the sense that humans have been known to do it. It is not human nature in the sense that humans will always do it when the opportunity presents itself.

Are you really trying to argue that Communists can’t be imperialist?

That would be a strange form of communism. Imperialism is, however, baked into capitalism, because once the capitalist class has absorbed the domestic, it tries to exfiltrate new resources abroad and subjugate new labor abroad and access new markets abroad. That is what the UK did, and that is what the US, as the global imperialist hegemon, has been doing for decades, along with its imperial core junior partners.

[–] m_f@midwest.social -4 points 1 week ago (3 children)

It is not human nature in the sense that humans will always do it when the opportunity presents itself.

What would be the best historical example that you can think of? To be specific, what is a historical example of when a country would have benefited from expanding an empire, had the resources and ability to do so, and chose not to for an extended period of time?

That would be a strange form of communism.

Human greed is a base desire that has been a constant throughout our entire history. At some point, you're arguing for a fantasy. Either Communism is a realistic political system that can be implemented with humans as we are, including all of our base animal impulses, or it's a fantasy that requires humans to achieve a higher level of consciousness first or something.

[–] davel@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Either Communism is a realistic political system that can be implemented with humans as we are, including all of our base animal impulses

That is precisely what it is.

or it’s a fantasy that requires humans to achieve a higher level of consciousness first or something.

That is precisely what it is not.

I think there’s ~0% chance you’re interested in understanding dialectical materialism or historical materialism, but I’ll link to this anyway: Elementary principles of philosophy

[–] m_f@midwest.social -2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I agree on what it is and isn't, but that's the counterpoint to your statement that communism and imperialism don't mix. My assertion is that imperialism is a part of human nature, and so either you acknowledge that communism and imperialism do mix, or that communism isn't realistic for humanity.

I think there’s ~0% chance you’re interested in understanding [..]

It's hard to convey over text on the internet, but I am actually interested in better understanding the world. As much as I think places like Hexbear are silly, it's useful to encounter worldviews so alien. I really hate low-effort "dunking" even if it's something I agree with, because you can't learn anything from that and it loses all nuance.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 week ago

I will second Elementary Principles of Philosophy, it's the best primer on Historical and Dialectical Materialism, which is why it's in my Introductory Marxist Reading List.