Opportunism is a term actively used in politics and economics. He came into use thanks to the ideas of Marxism.
The word has French roots. Translated, it means "convenient, profitable." In Latin, there is a word in tune with the French Opportunitas. In Latin means “chance”, “turned up opportunity”.
Etymology of the word
Opportunism was actively developed in the second half of the 19th century. This was caused by the development of revolutionary movements. But what is opportunism? The interpretation of a concept depends on a point of view, so to speak.
If we talk about the labor movement, here opportunism is the acceptance of a situation contrary to the interests of individual groups / parties, pushing leaders on a path advantageous to the ruling class. Someone's personal interests lead to such a phenomenon.
If we take politics, then opportunism is seen as an advantageous case, which is used by the ruling class or an individual / political party to the detriment of the existing ideology in society.
Someone considers opportunism as the adaptation of socialists to the interests of the bourgeoisie. The gradual rejection of the ideology and politics of the labor movement, which ultimately leads to the adoption of the judgments of the ruling class and the refusal to fight for socialist interests.
Some sources do not consider opportunism in terms of politics and economics. They give such an interpretation of the word: this is human unscrupulousness, behind which lies the desire, without effort, with minimal cost, to achieve goals or material gain.
History reference
Answering the question of what opportunism is, one cannot but say about the history of the emergence of this term. The year of his birth is the 1864th. It was in the framework of the work of the first international organization of the proletariat, known to everyone under the sonorous name of the International, that Karl Mark and Friedrich Engels criticized the concepts of Ferdinand Lassalle and Eduard Bernstein. These two renounced socialism and sided with the bourgeoisie, for which they received the stigma of the opportunists.
Marx and Engels also criticized the adventurous proposals of Mikhail Bakunin and Auguste Blanc. They suggested that the workers abandon their ideals and agree with the authorities. These ideas were considered by the Marxists as betrayal and automatically elevated their adherents to the rank of opportunists.
Thus, opportunism is based on an explosive mixture of the ideas of socialism, anarchism and liberal reformism. And also it is closely related to the concept of political economy.
From diplomacy to households
If you answer the question of what opportunism is from an economic point of view, then the definition of the word will sound like this: it is following your own interests, including fraudulently using lies, theft, fraud, but hardly limited to them. More often, this concept implies more subtle forms of deception, which can take an active and passive form. The main goal of the economic opportunist is material gain. This definition was formulated by the American economist Oliver Williamson.
One of the most striking examples of opportunism in the economy is sanctions, when the state prohibits controlled firms from selling goods and services to the market of an unfriendly country.
“Right” and “Left”
Answering the question of what opportunism is, one cannot fail to note that it comes in two forms: left and right.
The right one is characterized by liberalism and the absence of a struggle for socialism. Its representatives are the bourgeoisie, which can exist both under socialist and capitalist society. Its main task is to be friends with the authorities.
Right opportunism originates from Bernsteinism, the socio-democratic movement. Its adherents demanded a revision of the basic ideas of Marxism in view of their inconsistency with reality.
Right opportunism is characteristic of a "calm" time when there is no strong revolutionary unrest in society. Its heyday is considered the period from 1871 to 1914. It was at this time that he became an ideology for many parties of the Second International, which caused a split in a workers' society.
Adherents of the ideology of left opportunism categorically reject the liberal methods of struggle, calling for decisive action and radical actions. His supporters are the lower representatives of the ruling class. Not officials and the cream of the labor society, but people strangled by poverty and poverty.
Left opportunism has absorbed the ideas of anarchism. The development of this movement is characteristic of a revolutionary society. Bright representatives of the movement were the “Trotsky Opposition” and “Left Communists”.
However, all opportunists, both left and right, are the “brakes” of the revolutionary machine. Some urge society to adventure, while others - to accept everything as it is.