Stepanism

The symbol of Stepanism

Stepanism is a communist ideology, political philosophy and method of socioeconomic analysis that became the largest faction of the communist movement within Cirréone. It posits the need for a 'War on Capital,' more simply a revolution against capital, and the liberal political systems upholding it, as a means of establishing national communes, and ultimately one international commune, uniting the entirety of Cinder. Stepanism originates from the works of the Cirréonese philosopher Valerie Stepanoff. Stepanism has developed over time into various schools of thought, however, Orthodox Stepanism, the direct interpretation of Stepanoff's works, remains the most popular in Stepanist circles. Stepanism, notably, is the state ideology of the Second Commune of Cirréone, as enshrined in their Constitution.

Overview

Stepanism seeks to answer the issues of a society by positing that it all stems from oppression and class divide, which as of the rapid development of industry, is materialised in the divide between capitalists and the working class, illustrating the interconnectivity of all social issues, and their root in the economic organisation of a society. Stepanism describes the solution as to all issues of society as the reorganisation of the economy of a society, by way of abolishing capital and collectivising labour in a society's vast working body.

Furthermore, Stepanism posits that the way in which this economic reorganisation must occur should be through Stepanoff's theories of the War on Capital and the subsequent national and international communes. The former is the name for the concept of the international socialist revolution, by which capital should be abolished across all of Cinder. This, according to Stepanist theory, would materialise through the individual revolutions of each nation or region or people of Cinder, by which national communes would be established, collectivising labour through a state serving its nations people, until eventually the entirety of Cinder should be free of capital, in which case the Stepanist international commune should be formed, uniting the entirety of Cinder under one society of stateless, classless, egalitarianism. The War on Capital is notably not expected in one set time frame, but rather, a more overarching conflict including any and all anti-capitalist action. Notably, the War on Capital would be symbolically declared in Stepanoff's Capital, And Its Crushing Weight.

The Orthodox Stepanist national commune is defined as needing the constitutional prescription of socialist economics and the unity of socialist parties under one united party. It also calls for the representation of the people in its government, in some form, most commonly representation. However, it is the theory surrounding the national commune that is normally at subject to revision by Revisionist Stepanists.

Schools of thought

Orthodox

Orthodox Stepanism denotes the collection of socioeconomic theories expounded by Valerie Stepanoff, the direct teachings of her philosophical works, and their interpretation by figures such as Sebastian Kouzmine and Elliott Dupont, figures who claim to be 'Orthodox Stepanists.' The term 'Orthodox Stepanism' emerged in the face of the wake of revisionist interpretations of Stepanoff's works, around the time of the Cirréonese Coal Worker's Crisis. Orthodox Stepanism remains the most prominent Stepanist school of thought, with Valerie Stepanoff herself raised to an almost deified status in Stepanist circles.

Revisionist

Revisionist Stepanism, also known as 'New Stepanism,' refers to the revisionist interpretations of Valerie Stepanoff's philosophical works, emerging around the time of the Cirréonese Coal Worker's Crisis. These revisions were mostly concerning Stepanoff's depictions of national communes and how they should be governed. Famous Revisionist Stepanists would include Leon Crivanne, the last Chairperson of the (First) Commune of Cirréone.

Anarchist

Anarchist Stepanism, or Anarcho-Stepanism, refers to the rejection of Valerie Stepanoff's national communes, and the eventual international commune, for anarchic communes governed directly by the people inhabiting it. Anarchist Stepanism, however, is largely rejected in Stepanist circles, claiming it to not adhere to the philosophy of Valerie Stepanoff enough to be seen as Stepanism.

Revolutionist

Revolutionist Stepanism, emerging from the rise of Revolutionism, denotes the interpretation of Orthodox Stepanism as an early form of Socio-Revolutionist Thought, with the 'War on Capital,' being extended to a 'War on Stagnation,' needing to be repeated systematically to ensure the interests of the people within a national commune. Revolutionist Stepanism is famously rejected by Orthodox Stepanists such as Elliott Dupont and Paul Grasé on the grounds that it can only bring instability to a national commune, resulting in the collapse of the commune and the opportunity for foreign or internal capital to regain control.

Stepanism-Lángism

Stepanism-Lángism, the state ideology of Paxia, is a development of Orthodox Stepanism lead by Chairman Láng Jun of the Workers Republic of Paxia.