Defining “The People” In Revolutionary Dialectics

DEFINING THE PEOPLE
I have observed some level of confusion whenever we mention the people in revolutionary struggle.
Who exactly are the masses of our people?

In revolutionary dialectics, whenever we make reference to the people, what we are referring to are those with essence—the most vulnerable, the peasants, and the working class of our society. ~OIA

Defining “The People”: Why Revolutionary Movements Must Name Their True Base

In every revolutionary movement, one phrase echoes across speeches, manifestos, and organizing spaces: the people. Yet despite its constant use, there is often confusion about who exactly this term represents. In political discourse, “the people” can sound broad, symbolic, or even abstract. But in revolutionary dialectics, the definition is precise, intentional, and rooted in material reality.

At the heart of any genuine liberation struggle, the people refers to those who carry the weight of society on their backs while receiving the least from its rewards. These are the individuals whose lived experiences reflect the deepest contradictions of the system. They are not an imagined collective; they are a concrete social force.

Who Are the Masses?

Revolutionary theory identifies the masses as the most vulnerable groups within a society—those whose survival is shaped by economic exploitation, political exclusion, and social marginalization. This includes:

– Peasants, who work the land yet often lack ownership, security, or fair compensation.

– The working class, whose labour sustains industries, cities, and economies but who remain the most economically insecure.

– The poor and marginalized, whose daily struggles reveal the failures of existing structures.

– We must also put into consideration the professionals, the Bourgeois who have chosen to commit themselves with the people struggle regardless of their class in the society.

These groups are not simply victims; they are the essence of the struggle. Their conditions expose the system’s injustices, and their collective power holds the potential to transform it.

Why This Definition Matters

When movements fail to clearly define “the people,” they risk diluting their mission. Revolutionary change cannot be built on vague slogans. It must be anchored in the real needs, voices, and aspirations of those who suffer most under the current order.

To speak of “the people” is to speak of those whose liberation is not symbolic—it is urgent, material, and necessary. Any movement that claims to fight for justice must begin by naming them clearly.