It Could Happen Here - Political Cults: The Democratic Workers Party feat. Andrew

Episode Date: August 30, 2024

Andrew and James discuss another political cult. In this episode, we cover the Democratic Workers Party and its leader, former professor Marlene Dixon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curious about queer sexuality, cruising, and expanding your horizons? Hit play on the sex-positive and deeply entertaining podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Join hosts Gabe Gonzalez and Chris Patterson Rosso as they explore queer sex, cruising, relationships, and culture in the new iHeart podcast, Sniffy's Cruising Confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals.

You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. Hi, I'm Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast, and we're kicking off our second season digging into tech's elite and how they've turned Silicon Valley into a playground for billionaires. From the chaotic world of generative AI to the destruction of Google search, Better Offline is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech brought to you by an industry veteran with nothing to lose.

Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts from. The 2025 iHeart Podcast Awards are coming. This is the chance to nominate your podcast for the industry's biggest award. Submit your podcast for nomination now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. But hurry, submissions close on December 8th. Hey, you've been doing all that talking. It's time to get rewarded for it. Submit your podcast today at iHeart.com slash podcast awards.

That's iHeart.com slash podcast awards. Welcome to Good Afternoon. I'm Andrew Sage from the YouTube channel Andrewism, and I'm joined again by... James. Hey, Andrew. Welcome back. Time to talk about political cults

again oh good fine continuing with the work of dennis turish and tim woolforth in their book on the edge political cults left and right i've spoken before about the cult recruitment process the contradictory positions held by cult members, ideological totalism, and the commonalities of political cults including rigid belief systems, immunity to falsification, authoritarianism, arbitrary leadership, deification of leaders, intense activism, and the use of loaded language. And speaking of loaded language, I know that some people don't like the term cult because it is, you know, very charged. I prefer it personally. I know that other terms are used such as high control groups or new religious movements,

but I'm sticking to cults. My question for you, James, do you think that you would be susceptible to a cult? One hopes not. We spoke about authoritarian personalities before, and I wonder if there's something similar for people who end up in cults. But I'm sure there's something that could get any of us. We all have our susceptibilities to these things. But I hope it wouldn't be.

For sure. I mean, one would like to think, you know, I'm built different, I wouldn't be. For sure. I mean, one would like to think, you know, yeah, I'm built different. You know, I wouldn't fall into a cult. But, you know, really, especially considering the paucity of community these days, it's little wonder that so many people find a home in such harmful and abusive spaces. So previously, I've touched on the LaRouche movement, the Newman tendency, and the United Red Army of Japan, the latter of which ended up killing some people. Today, we'll be looking at another case study,

not nearly as extreme, but still quite abusive. This time, the infamous Marlene dixon and her democratic workers party oh fun times fun times indeed i also got some information on dixon's activity not just from on the edge but also from the book bounded choice true believers and charismatic cults by janja lalich who was actually a member of dixon's democratic workers party for 10 years i like that a lot of books written about cults are written by former cult members yeah i mean i think it can be like the point you raised your initial question right like everyone likes to think they're special i'm not susceptible and i can see how books written about them could be

written from a place of like condescension or, you know, othering. So like, I think it's always good when folks who have survived these things can write about them. Yeah, for sure. For sure. I mean, one of the authors of On the Edge, Tim Woolforth, he was also part of a Trotskyist cult. So these are people who are speaking from experience. Yeah. I was writing about cults long before I started this podcast. Um, there was some weird cult-like behaviors in endurance sports, and, uh, I spoke to an expert and she also was a survivor and, uh, introduced me to some other survivors of some more sort of classic left political cults. And, uh, like it wasn't something I ever really felt comfortable

like narrating their experiences. I would rather they narrate their experiences. For sure. It was, it was really interesting to see how many of them were like so really felt comfortable like narrating their experiences i would rather they narrate their experiences for sure it was it was really interesting to see how many of them were like so willing to write about it and to talk about it and wanted to educate people about it yeah i mean one of the reasons i'm particularly passionate about political cults is just the way that they sap the energy the passion the the drive the potential of what should be people involved in really positive change.

They end up getting sucked in and the energies get sapped by these causes, by these leaders that just sort of diverts their potential trajectory. sort of diverts their potential trajectory yeah absolutely i think anyone who is active in in the united states on the left in 2020 can attest to the ability of some of these groups to just cut the soul out of out of a popular movement which was making a positive difference at one point right so let's get into it marlene Dixon was born into a family that valued education and intellectual pursuit. From a young age, she was immersed in an environment that fostered deep appreciation for learning and critical thinking. And this foundation significantly influenced her future path, setting the stage for her academic and political endeavors. Growing up, Dixon showed an early interest in sociology, a field that would later become her academic and professional focus. She pursued higher education with a passion,

earning her undergraduate degree and going on to complete a PhD in sociology in the University of California. Her doctoral studies were marked by a rigorous exploration of social structures and inequalities, themes that would resonate throughout her career. As a sociology professor, Dixon's classroom was more than just a place for academic instruction. It was a forum for radical ideas and critical debate. Her teaching was infused with a strong feminist perspective, challenging traditional notions and encouraging students to question societal norms. This feminist ideology was not just an academic interest, but a driving force behind her activism and the formation of her political beliefs. However, even early on we get in signs that some things have been awry. According to some of her former students and colleagues,

it was also during those years that she became interested in mass social psychology and group behavior modification. She studied Robert J. Lifton's work on thought reform. She studied and admired total communities, aka cults, and other directed methods of behavioral control, such as Alcoholics Anonymous. She believed that these programs provided positive ways to change people. Dixon's early academic career also provided her with a platform to connect with like-minded individuals who shared her passion for social justice. These connections were proof crucial as she moved beyond the confines of academia and into the world of radical political activism.

Her political awakening came during a time of significant social and political upheaval. The 60s and 70s were decades marked by civil rights movements, anti-war protests, and a growing disillusionment with the status quo. Dixon was deeply influenced by the principles of Marxism, Leninism, and Maoism. Marxism provided her with a free movement for understanding class struggle and the exploitation inherent in capitalist societies. Lenin's organizational principles, particularly the concept of the vanguard party, were also integral to Dixon's political thought. Lenin argued, of course, that a disciplined, centralized party was necessary to lead the

revolution. Dixon adopted this idea wholeheartedly, seeing the need for a tightly controlled, hierarchical organization that could guide the proletariat towards socialism. Mao Zedong's influence on Dixon was particularly evident in her approach to internal party dynamics. Mao's emphasis on continuous revolution and self-criticism as tools for maintaining ideological purity resonated with Dixon. She implemented rigorous criticism and self-criticism sessions within her future party, a practice that aimed to eliminate bourgeois tendencies and reinforce commitment to the party's goals. Dixon's political engagement wasn't limited to theoretical discussions.

She was actively involved in radical movements, participating in protests, and organizing efforts to sort of challenge existing power structures. Her activism extended beyond national borders, as she connected with international revolutionary movements and drew inspiration from their struggles. The culmination of these influences and experiences led to the founding of the Democratic Workers' Party in 1974. I found out I was related to the guy that I was dating.

I don't feel emotions correctly. I am talking to a felon right now, and I cannot decide if I like him or not. Those were some callers from my call-in podcast, Therapy Gecko. It's a show where I take real phone calls from anonymous strangers all over the world as a fake gecko therapist and try to dig into their brains and learn a little bit about their lives. I know that's a weird concept, but I promise it's pretty interesting if you give it a shot. Matter of fact, here's a few more examples of the kinds of calls we get on this show. I live with my boyfriend and I found his piss jar in our apartment. I collect my roommate's toenails and fingernails. I have very overbearing parents. Even at the age of 29, they won't let me

move out of their house. So if you want an excuse to get out of your own head and see what's going on in someone else's head, search for Therapy Gecko on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the one with the green guy on it. Hey, I'm Jack Peace Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. I'm Jack Peace Thomas, and I'm inviting you to join me and a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts dedicated to protecting

and celebrating our stories. Black Lit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while commuting or running errands, for those who find themselves seeking solace, wisdom, and refuge between the chapters. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll dissect classics and contemporary works while uncovering the stories of the brilliant writers behind them. Blacklit is here to amplify the voices of Black writers and to bring their words to life. Listen to Blacklit on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast, and we're kicking off our second season digging into how tech's elite has turned Silicon Valley into a playground for billionaires. From the chaotic world of generative AI to the destruction of Google search, Better Offline is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech from an industry veteran with nothing to lose. This season, I'm going to be joined by everyone

from Nobel winning economists to leading journalists in the field. And I'll be digging into why the products you love keep getting worse and naming and shaming those responsible. Don't get me wrong, though. I love technology. I just hate the people in charge and want them to get back to building things that actually do things to help real people. I swear to God things can change if we're loud enough. So join me every week to understand what's happening in the tech industry and what could be done to make things better. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts. Check out betteroffline.com.

Check out betteroffline.com. capitalism. But beyond Marx, Lenin, and Mao, the New Communist Movement, or NCM, played a significant role in shaping Dixon's approach. The NCM was a diverse collection of groups that emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, advocating for a revitalized communist movement in the United States. The NCM sought to build new Marxist-Leninist organizations that could address the shortcomings of the old left and provide a fresh, militant alternative. Dixon was of course deeply inspired by the NCM's emphasis on building a revolutionary vanguard and its commitment to rigorous theoretical work and practical activism. At the time, the UWP was getting a lot of credit for being one of the few feminist and women-led organizations in the new communist movement, which allowed the group to draw radicals from leftist circles as well as the women's movement and the gay movement. When most NCM groups were virulently homophobic and dismissive of feminism,

the DWP had a unique allure. Early on in her political career, Marlene Dixon also contributed theoretically to the DWP with the concept of proletarian feminism, which allowed the DWP to stand up both against class prejudice and sexism and for the equality of all people. Over time though, her concept of proletarian feminism became less prominent in the DWP's approach and the literature. In the early stages, the concept of proletarian feminism attracted a lot of people, including Jan Jalilic, the author of Bounded Choice, who had been part of the DWP. The early days of the DWP were marked by a significant effort to recruit and train new members. Dixon and her close associates focused on building a cadre

of dedicated revolutionaries who were deeply committed to the party's goals. These members were not just activists, but ideological soldiers, prepared to dedicate their lives to the cause of socialism. Recruitment often targeted young intellectuals and activists who were disillusioned with mainstream politics and eager for radical change. In this early period, the party's organized study groups, protests, and community outreach programs all aimed at raising political consciousness

and building support for the party's revolutionary agenda. Dixon's charisma and intellectual rigor inspired many, but her leadership style also had its challenges. Early on, she had very authoritarian tendencies, influenced by her admiration for Mao Zedong, and it led to a highly controlled and often repressive internal atmosphere. Members were subjugated to rigorous criticism and self-criticism sessions, and these sessions could be psychologically taxing, creating an atmosphere of constant scrutiny and pressure. This is exemplary of social psychologists Anthony Prakhanis and Elliot Aronson's seven-step guide to creating a political cult, which included, crucially, maintaining a rigid internal regime. of their other steps, such as creating a distinct social reality, building commitment through dissonance reduction, sending members to proselytize, and fixating members on a promised land. The promised land being, of course, international communism. The DWP grew steadily

in its early years. Full-time members, called cadres or militants, typically numbered between 125 and 150 people, but in certain periods there were between 300 and 1,000 members at various grades of affiliation. One of the DWP's primary areas of focus was labour organising. Dixon and her colleagues saw the labour movement as a critical battleground for the struggle against capitalism, and they dedicated significant resources to supporting labour strikes, organising union drives and advocating for workers' rights. The DWP's members often worked closely with existing labour unions, providing support and promoting a more radical, class-conscious approach to labour activism. And this involvement helped party gain credibility and trust among workers, who saw the DWP as genuine allies in their struggle.

who saw the WP as genuine allies in their struggle. Members were also active in campaigns for affordable housing, healthcare, and education, working to build coalitions with other progressive organizations and community groups. Political education was another cornerstone of their activities. Dixon believed that a well-informed and ideologically grounded membership was essential for the party's success, so they had regular study groups, workshops and lectures on Marxist theory, current events, and revolutionary strategy.

And these activities were not limited to members but were also used as tools for outreach. Eventually the party's activities extended beyond its initial base in San Francisco and reached other parts of California, even gaining attention on a national scale. Dixon's ability to connect with other radical movements and her strategic vision for the DWP's role in the broader revolutionary struggle had played a significant part in this growth. But despite their successes, behind the scenes was not too hot, to put it lightly.

While Dixon's theoretical acumen and charm had attracted many to her cause, her methods of maintaining control within the party was what gave it its cult connotations. One of the central aspects of Dixon's control was her personal domination over the party and its members. Dixon established herself as the undisputed leader of the DWP, demanding absolute loyalty and obedience. Laylish describes her as a large, loud woman who exuded a type of charisma that could be difficult for outsiders to comprehend. Her personal style was abrasive and she was stern and domineering. Nonetheless, Dixon was able to exact commitment from her followers that

entailed devotion to her person and undying defense of her actions as their leader. So we see a peculiar and almost haunting resemblance to other historical movements like Heaven's Gate. On the surface they seem worlds apart, one is steeped in political ideology, the other in spiritual salvation. But dive deeper and you'll find that the currents beneath their surface flow with striking similarities. Take, for instance, the role of charisma. Like Applewhite in The Nettles of Heaven's Gate, Dixon used words as her craft, her instrument, speaking to eager audiences, weaving a vision of hope that drew people in. She wasn't just persuasive, she was magnetic.

She created a myth for herself that seemed to fit with the revolutionary zeitgeist of the time. Lalish describes that when she first joined the party, Dixon was a towering presence, who created an intense, almost sacred bond with them. Lalish speaks of how the followers were awed by her, desperate to follow her vision, willing to endure her criticism just to stay in her good graces. desperate to follow her vision, willing to endure her criticism just to stay in her good graces. And when Dixon would spend some time away and came back, they would spend long, grueling meetings where she would dissect every decision they made and criticize everything they did in her absence, showing them all the ways they had fallen short. It was brutal,

but it also reinforced her authority over them as they wanted to get her approval at all times. One of her documents on the development of Leninist democracy told the followers that the leadership was about authority, not popularity. And that whether we liked her or not, we had to accept her as the ultimate authority in the party. Lattice also says that they were made to believe that being part of the EWP was a privilege. Authority wasn't just accepted, it was revered. And this was the foundation of their relationship with Dixon. She was the leader, the guiding force, and they were the followers, committed, obedient, and always seeking her approval. And yet, there was a secret at the heart of her lure. She was a mythmaker. Her backstory was curated, embellished, to paint herself as a champion of civil rights when the reality was far less dramatic.

I found out I was related to the guy that I was dating. I don't feel emotions correctly. I am talking to a felon right now, and I cannot decide if I like him or not. Those were some callers from my call-in podcast, Therapy Gecko. It's a show where I take real phone calls from anonymous strangers all over the world as a fake gecko therapist and try to dig into their brains and learn a little bit about their lives. I know that's a weird concept, but I promise it's pretty interesting if you give it a shot. Matter of fact, here's a few more examples of the kinds of calls we get on this show.

I live with my boyfriend and I found his piss jar in our apartment. I collect my roommate's toenails and fingernails. I have very overbearing parents. Even at the age of 29, they don't let me move out of their house. So if you want an excuse to get out of your own head and see what's going on in someone else's head, search for Therapy Gecko on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. It's the one with the green guy on it. Hey, I'm Jacqueline Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, The one with the green guy on it. protecting and celebrating our stories. Blacklit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while commuting or running errands, for those who find themselves seeking solace, wisdom, and refuge between the chapters. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll dissect classics and contemporary works

while uncovering the stories of the brilliant writers behind them. Blacklit is here to amplify the voices of Black writers and to bring their words to life. Listen to Blacklit on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Ed Zitron, host of the Better Offline podcast, and we're kicking off our second season digging into how tech's elite has turned Silicon Valley into a playground for billionaires. From the chaotic world of generative AI to the destruction of Google search, Better Offline is your unvarnished and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech from an industry veteran with nothing to lose. with nothing to lose. This season, I'm going to be joined by everyone from Nobel-winning economists

to leading journalists in the field. And I'll be digging into why the products you love keep getting worse and naming and shaming those responsible. Don't get me wrong, though. I love technology. I just hate the people in charge and want them to get back to building things

that actually do things to help real people. I swear to God, things can change if we're loud enough. So join me every week to understand what's happening in the tech industry and what could be done to make real people. I swear to God, things can change if we're loud enough. So join me every week to understand what's happening in the tech industry and what could be done to make things better. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever else you get your podcasts. Check out betteroffline.com.

Systems of Control is another area where the DWP and Heaven's Gate shared common ground. Both groups thrived on a mix of carrot and stick. Promises of a better future, harsh discipline for failure. The leaders would live apart from their followers, hidden away while their followers toiled and sacrificed. Every day was a test, every misstep a reason for criticism. And leaders were never revealing themselves fully. They created a distance that would heighten their mystique and their authority. In the DWP, there was a very strict hierarchy and chain of command.

Dixon was at the top, she had a select few leaders below her her and decisions were made top down. Democratic centralism, which was the Leninist tactic that theoretically allowed for debate and democracy, was really there to enforce obedience. Members were also split into tiers. You had trial members, candidate members, and general members. Each level carrying distinct privileges and obligations. An advancement was up to Dixon. She decided who leveled up in the party. Sanctions for rule violations ranged from increased duties to expulsion, the severest being expulsion with prejudice, effectively erasing the individual from party history.

And the party's first purge, notably the quote-unquote lesbian purge, exemplified Dixon's control tactics as a targeted perceived threat within the group and set a precedent for internal purges that instilled fear and loyalty among the members. And then lastly, there was transcendent belief, another area where Heaven's Gate and the DWP had common ground. For Heaven's Gate, it was about transcending human life to reach a higher plane of existence. For the DWP, it was about transforming society, reaching utopia through class struggle. The daily life of DWP members was highly regimented.

Dixon had strict routines and expectations, demanded complete dedication to the party's activities. Members were subjected to intense scrutiny, particularly those of the evil middle-class backgrounds. And this method, of course, effectively suppressed dissent and ensured that members remained tightly bound to Dixon's vision. This relentless schedule that had them working long hours, both in their day jobs and on party-related tasks left them little time for pursuits or outside relationships, which also helped Dixon maintain control over their lives. By limiting members' interactions with outsiders, Dixon minimized the risk of external influences undermining her authority. And this isolation extended to living arrangements as well, as members lived communally, which further reinforced their dependence on the party and their separation from mainstream society. The combination of these

control mechanisms created a highly controlled and insular environment within the WP, as members were constantly monitored by both Dixon and their other peers to ensure that any deviation from the party line was quickly identified and addressed. The use of fear, guilt, and psychological manipulation kept members in line. Of course, the control was not just psychological, it was physical. Because when you're isolated, when you're working all the time, your body is going to break down, you're exhausted, you're burnt out. And the emotional strain of constant criticism doesn't exactly help either. But all of this worked to keep party members in their place.

The controversies surrounding the DWP's methods and leadership eventually drew attention from both within the leftist movement and from external observers. Critics argued that Dixon's authoritarianism and the party's cult-like practices were antithetical to the principles of socialism and genuine revolutionary activity. But these criticisms did little to alter the internal dynamics of the DWP during its peak. In the early days, Dixon and her followers truly believed the revolution was just around the corner. By the 1980s, recruitment was faltering, purges was narrowing the organization's focus, and the DWP's aggressive tactics had led to conflicts with other leftist groups. Dixon had grown disillusioned. She'd begun to see the local struggles they were taking part in as insignificant, as mere reformist gestures. She moved the party from distributing a local

newspaper to publishing dense academic journals. She developed a stain for world systems theory, which had once been a guiding light in her movement, and rejected it as anti-socialist and cynical. In her eyes, the United States working class was no longer a beacon for revolution. Instead, she placed her faith in the USSR, in Eastern Europe, in distant lands where she believed the future of socialism lay. Her frequent travels to conferences in Europe and her focus on theoretical debates alienated her members, as the heart of their struggle had been replaced with a distant, abstract vision that none of them could grasp. But the real breaking point came with her change in strategies. Dixon began to see the Petit Boudroisier as potential allies instead of enemies,

as they had always been, a radical shift from her ideology that her party had been taught. Beyond all that, her drinking had become more uncontrolled than usual, and her abuse of the members had increased. So in late 1985, a few of her members decided that enough was enough. While Dixon was away on one of her many trips, they gathered in secret, shared their frustrations, and laid bare the truth over what had become of the party. When Dixon returned, she was met with the harshest reality of all. They told her that the party was over,

that she was expelled, and that they were dissolving the party. Her reaction was, of course, a mix of disbelief and anger, and a final bitter confrontation with the collapse of everything she had built. Afterwards, there was of course a mess to clean up. The members, having endured abuse for so long, including financial abuse, took it upon themselves to divide the assets amongst themselves as a final small compensation for the years they had given. Each person received a paltry sum, a mere fraction of what they had invested. But at last, the party's ideological crises weakened leadership, and internal strife

resulted in the organization's dissolution. The party was indeed over, and they could start their life anew. It Could Happen Here is a production of Cool Zone Media. For more podcasts from Cool Zone Media, visit our website, coolzonemedia.com, or check us out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find sources for It Could Happen Here updated monthly at coolzonemedia.com slash sources. Thanks for listening.

Curious about queer sexuality, cruising, and expanding your horizons? Thanks for listening. confessions. Sniffy's Cruising Confessions will broaden minds and help you pursue your true goals. You can listen to Sniffy's Cruising Confessions, sponsored by Gilead, now on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday. The 2025 iHeart Podcast Awards are coming. This is the chance to nominate your podcast for the industry's biggest award. Submit your podcast for nomination now at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. But hurry, submissions close on December 8th. Hey, you've been doing all that talking. It's time to get rewarded for it. Submit your podcast today at iHeart.com slash podcast awards. That's iHeart.com slash podcast awards. and at times unhinged look at the underbelly of tech brought to you by an industry veteran with nothing to lose. Listen to Better Offline on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, wherever else you get your podcasts from.