It is both, both are necessary. Material conditions set the stage for struggle but it requires political education and organization to create radicals. The political education itself also emerges from conditions and history. They are co-creating.

Now, we’ve been radicalized by living conditions and theory just pointed at the real cause.

i grew up poor surrounded by poor people. first time i landed in the west we lived in public housing among asylum seekers. my conditions led to my own decision to educate myself of alternative ways to live/take a step away from western programming.

no one around me grew to become radicalized by living condition. they either took the punches and continued to play the game, or turned to crime (i don’t blame them). i think it’s also why i find it difficult to fully integrate into leftist groups; the loudest voices are often from the most privileged