Margaux Lopez’s Reviews > Comrade: An Essay on Political Belonging > Status Update

Navigating the process of alienating the relationship of "friend" from that of "comrade" is an especially tricky thing to do - but essential for one to participate in comradeship. I like that Jodi Dean says here "Collectivity replaces the singularity of friendship" and reminds us that "comrade" is a utopian idea we strive for, and a single misstep does not unmake a comrade, but can actually give them room to grow.

The concept that our comradeship is based in shared struggle - across the divides of identity leaves room for us to both acknowledge that as comrades we must do better to fight internal prejudice - as well as the need for us to forgive each other when we wrong one another. Our experiences both as victims and offenders are shaped by our conditions.

Jodi Dean's framing of allyship firmly within identity politics, and thus within a context of individualism really makes me understand identity politics in a new dimension. Her argument for comradeship over allyship and the importance of not only a shared political vision, but a shared responsibility towards political education is compelling.