This might be a silly question, so I want to preface it with an apology in advance and if you think there is a better place to ask please let me know.
I’ve come across a large number of self-described “anarchists” or “non-communist leftists,” or the like, mostly online,thanks to where I live (谢天谢地). But whenever you look a bit closer, the pattern is the same: underneath the aesthetics and language, it’s just liberalism. Pro-NATO positions, contempt toward the global periphery, and extremely reactionary responses when imperialism or capitalism are seriously questioned.
So my question is: Is adopting these leftist identities a kind of defensive mechanism (an attempt to distance themselves from the real-world damage caused by liberal ideology) or am I misunderstanding what’s actually going on?
I think your diagnosis of a self defense mechanism is correct. It is an emotional barrier that they erect to protect themselves from emotionally participating at the same level they are physically participating. If that makes sense. But it’s all just a byproduct of going down the wrong mental road. You can see it in the inverse: they refuse to rhetorically support AES or view themselves as socialists because they do not want to suffer the emotional consequences of being seen as “supporting oppression” that they do not materially support so it’s all meaningless anyway.
I think it’s also a symptom of living in the imperial core and also having sham democracy. The state acts without your permission constantly, it impoverishes the people to enrich an oligarchy, you feel profoundly alienated and disconnected, and as a consequence you imbue greater meaning on what stances or opinions you have. It also is reminiscent of work culture and how “don’t blame me I just work here” is a means of keeping yourself intact.