Re: Stalinism And Standards of Intellectual Discourse

[g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx]

On Sun, 17 Dec 1995 LeoCasey@xxxxxxx wrote:

> Indeed, I would argue that the attempt to deny the efficacy of the term
> 'Stalinism' is little more than an attempt to erase the name we have for the
> crimes and their apologists; for that which is nameless does not appear in
> history.

Leo

I am in complete agreement with the spirit of this post.  However I stand
by my original statement that the term "stalinisim" lack theoretical
rigour and that we should attempt to give it some.  this was brought home
on this list I think most clearly when Karl (I think) dismissed Joe Slovo
as a "stalinist".

I have also seen Lukacs dismissed in the same way.  I am convinced that
this is not a useful way to proceed.  Howwever none of this makes me in
any way an apologist for Stalin.  I am sure however that you did not
intend this inference.


regards

Gary

P.S.  I have recently reread Krushcev's "secret speech" on Stalin and his
views, like Medvedev's,  cannot be lightly dismissed either.


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