Posadism (Trotskyist UFO-communism)
Historical Trotskyist sect founded by J. Posadas (1962). Distinctive doctrine combining Trotskyism with UFO contact theories. Small surviving network.
CLCI radar
BITE breakdown
0 — historical Trotskyist sect; distinctive UFO-communism doctrine; small surviving network.
Profile facts
In context
Posadism is one of the most idiosyncratic Trotskyist sects, combining standard Marxist analysis with the doctrine that UFOs come from interplanetary socialist civilisations. Posadas died 1981; small successor groups continue. Substantial recent online interest as historical curiosity.
Recovery resources
- ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) — General referral and cult-aware therapist directory.
- INFORM (Information Network on Religious Movements) — LSE-founded UK research-based information service covering new religious movements.
- Reclamation Collective — Religious-trauma-aware therapist network; relevant for post-exit identity-rebuilding.
- Freedom of Mind Resource Center — Steven Hassan's organisation; BITE-model resources and family-side exit guidance.
See the full curated list at /resources.
Evidence by BITE axis
- Historical cult-of-personality around Posadas
- small surviving network
- Distinctive UFO doctrine
- distinctive UFO-communism doctrine
Timeline
- 1962Posadism crystallises as separate Trotskyist current
- 1981Posadas dies
Evidence matrix
Structured sources cross-linked to the claims they document. Tiered per the source hierarchy. For free-text citations see the Sources section below.
| Title | Type | Reliability | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posadists Believe that Socialism Can Only Be Established With the Help of Aliens | Journalism | Secondary | — |
| “Opinion | 'Make It So': 'Star Trek' and Its Debt to Revolutionary Socialism” · archive | Journalism | Secondary | — |
| https://www.academia.edu/8381463 · archive | Academic | Secondary | — |
| The Socialists Who Think Revolution Will Come When the Aliens Get Here · archive | Journalism | Secondary | — |
Sources
- A.M. Gittlitz, 'I Want to Believe' (2020) search ↗
- Posadists Believe that Socialism Can Only Be Established With the Help of Aliens — https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/dpw5aj/posadism-trotskyism-guillermo-almeyra-interview-876 open ↗
- “Opinion | 'Make It So': 'Star Trek' and Its Debt to Revolutionary Socialism” — https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/24/opinion/make-it-so-star-trek-and-its-debt-to-revolutionary-socialism.html open ↗
- https://www.academia.edu/8381463 — https://www.academia.edu/8381463 open ↗
- The Socialists Who Think Revolution Will Come When the Aliens Get Here — https://www.vice.com/en/article/dpw5aj/posadism-trotskyism-guillermo-almeyra-interview-876 open ↗
We cite sources by name and outlet rather than fabricating links. Where a source includes its own URL, the open ↗ link opens it directly; otherwise search ↗ runs a Google Scholar query for the cited title — useful for verifying academic sources. For news outlets, search the outlet's own archive.
Change history
Substantive edits logged per the score-updates policy.
- 2026-05-29Phase 1 Batch J: per-group recovery resources applied via programmatic palette (closest-fit by category + subCategory + score). Palette: Political cadre.
- 2026-05-20Score band scheme migrated from 4 bands to 5 (Minimal 0–5 / Low 6–12 / Moderate 13–20 / High 21–30 / Extreme 31–40). No CLCI value changed; the new Minimal band was carved out of the bottom of the previous Low band.
Relevant hubs
Curated entry points on CLCI Hub for situations connected to this group.
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Frequently asked questions
Q.Is Posadism a cult?
CLCI Hub deliberately avoids the binary label "cult." Instead it places groups on a transparent 0–40 spectrum of documented control using Steven Hassan's BITE model (Behaviour, Information, Thought, Emotional). Posadism scores 20 out of 40 — "Moderate Control", at medium confidence. The score describes documented control patterns, not a judgement of members' sincerity or beliefs; many members do not personally experience the patterns listed.
Q.What is Posadism's CLCI score?
Posadism scores 20 out of 40 on the Cult-Like Control Index, which falls in the "Moderate" band. That total is the sum of four BITE axes — Behaviour 4, Information 5, Thought 7, Emotional 4 — plus a signed modifier of +0 for aggravating or mitigating factors.
Q.Why does Posadism score 20 on the CLCI?
The score reflects publicly documented patterns including: Distinctive UFO doctrine; Historical cult-of-personality around Posadas. These map onto the BITE axes of behaviour, information, thought, and emotional control, and a signed modifier of +0 is applied for factors such as financial demands, leadership accountability, and exit costs. Every claim is backed by the citations in the Sources section on this page.
Q.How reliable is the Posadism rating?
This profile is rated Medium confidence. Medium confidence means the score rests on reputable journalism plus consistent ex-member testimony. CLCI scores are not fixed — they are revised whenever new public evidence appears, and groups that reform can score lower over time.
Q.Where can I get help regarding Posadism?
If you or someone you care about is affected by Posadism, start with the Recovery resources listed on this page. General cult-aware support is available from the International Cultic Studies Association (icsahome.com) and the Freedom of Mind Resource Center (freedomofmind.com). CLCI Hub is an educational resource, not a crisis service — if anyone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.
Found something wrong on this profile?
We accept correction requests from anyone — current and former members, researchers, journalists, family members, and the listed organisation. Submissions are reviewed by an editor; we do not auto-publish.