socialism or barbarism

[Paul Cockshott <wpc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The use of the term barbarism in this debate, and in the
original slogan is ideological and racist.

When Engels used the term Barbarism in 'Origin of the
Family', he refered specifically to societies with agriculture
or husbandry but no state. It was not a term of abuse,
but a scientific characterisation of a stage of social
development.

The slogan 'socialism or barbarism' was a reflection of the
imperialist outlook of the European socialist movement, which
saw barbarism as the 'other' of European civilisation - being
represented particularly by Africa. In this case it was a pure
term of abuse with no scientific content. There was no prospect
that capitalist development was going to lead to barbarism in
Engels sense - a pre-state agricultural society. What we have
seen this century is not barbarism but the highest refinement
of civilisation.


Paul Cockshott (wpc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)



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