Left-Wing Accelerationism: A Deep Dive

Core Tenets of Left-Wing Accelerationism

• Capitalism as a Constraint: L/Acc argues that capitalism, while historically significant for technological advancement, now hinders further progress. It creates inequality, exploits labor, and prioritizes profit over human well-being.
• Reclaiming Technology: A central goal is to reclaim technology from capitalist control. This involves democratizing access to technology, developing open-source alternatives, and using technology to address social and environmental problems.
• Post-Capitalist Futures: L/Acc aims to create post-capitalist futures characterized by:
  • Automation: Automating repetitive and dangerous tasks to free up human labor for more creative and fulfilling pursuits.
  • Reduced Working Hours: Significantly reducing the length of the working week to improve work-life balance and create more leisure time.
  • Universal Basic Income (UBI): Providing a guaranteed minimum income to all citizens, regardless of their employment status, to ensure basic economic security.
  • Overcoming Social Hierarchies: Using technology to dismantle traditional social hierarchies based on race, gender, class, and other forms of discrimination.
• Rational Planning: L/Acc supports the use of advanced modeling and planning tools to create a more rational and equitable economic system. This involves gathering data, developing simulations, and using evidence-based decision-making to allocate resources and manage production.

Key Figures in Left-Wing Accelerationism

• Mark Fisher: A cultural theorist and writer known for his blog k-punk and his critiques of neoliberalism and capitalist realism. He argued that capitalism has created a "hauntology" where the future feels cancelled and that accelerationist strategies are needed to break free from this state.
• Nick Srnicek and Alex Williams: Authors of "#ACCELERATE MANIFESTO for an Accelerationist Politics" and *Inventing the Future: Postcapitalism and a World Without Work*. They advocate for a "politics of abstraction" that embraces technology, planning, and universalism to create a post-capitalist future.

Examples and Inspirations

While not directly calling themselves accelerationist, some historical projects and ideas align with the principles of L/Acc:

• Project Cybersyn: A Chilean project in the early 1970s that attempted to create a cybernetically controlled economy. While ultimately unsuccessful due to political instability, Cybersyn serves as a powerful example of using technology to manage and plan economic activity.
• The Venus Project is another notable example of a project that, while not self-described as accelerationist, embodies L/Acc themes through its focus on resource-based economy and technological innovation to address social and environmental challenges.

Criticisms and Considerations

L/Acc is not without its critics. Some common criticisms include:

• Technological Determinism: Accusations of technological determinism, assuming that technology will automatically lead to positive social change without addressing underlying power structures.
• Lack of a Clear Path: Skepticism about the practical steps needed to transition from capitalism to a post-capitalist future.
• Potential for Authoritarianism: Concerns that rational planning and centralized control could lead to authoritarian regimes.

Effective Accelerationism

Effective accelerationism (e/acc) is a branch of left-wing accelerationism that draws inspiration from effective altruism, advocating for unrestricted technological advancement at any cost. Its proponents believe that artificial general intelligence (AGI) can solve universal human problems like poverty, war, and climate change. They prioritize accelerating technological development over concerns about potential risks, arguing that the stagnation of technology poses a greater threat.