Re: Chinese Demonstrators Raise Mao

["TAHIR WOOD" <TWOOD@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>>> "Charles Brown" <CharlesB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 02/02
10:21 PM >>>

CB: Maoism did not include the ideas of Marx, Engels and
Lenin in the category "Western ideas" as used above. See "On
Contradiction" and "On Practice" , for example.

Also, it is well established since Lenin, that "nationalism"
in the ideological arsenal of a national liberation movement
against imperialism is not necessarily anti-Marxist or
anti-proletarian internationalist. The issue of "foreign
influence" in the form of imperialism is a class issue.

Tahir: I don't believe that this formulation is correct at
all. 'Nationalism' in my view is quite incompatible with
internationalism. What has been established (at least) since
Lenin is rather that the national struggle is a legitimate
form of class struggle, which is quite a different thing.
For example, the struggle against Japanese imperialism: The
Maoist position as I understand it is that this national
struggle should be led by communist forces and NEVER by
nationalist ones. The communists in China did not accept the
leadership of the nationalists or of their
nationalist/Confucian ideology.

Also you ignore the fact that that the post I was responding
to equated corruption with the "infection" of foreign
influences. I believe that this is a dangerous formulation
precisely because it is incorrect. Even if you mean that
"foreign influences" simply refers here to capitalism, this
would be wrong (especially in China, where a national
bourgeoisie was to be found).

Nationalism per se has no effective response to imperialism,
precisely because it has no consistent principles, and
furthermore it can be shown historically that as soon as
nationalist leaders secure their own positions they
compromise very readily with imperialism. I don't know of
many exceptions to this rule. Do you?

I do think, however, that the Maoist popularisation of
Marxism in China did occasionally lean too far towards
promoting a nationalist sentiment, which is what I referred
to as "quaint" in my earlier posting. By the way, I also
think that this tendency led to serious mistakes in the area
of foreign policy where the Chinese misguidedly and
uncritically supported nationalist movements of a very
dubious character indeed, particularly in Africa. I am a
great admirer of Mao but I insist on reading the texts you
mention with a critical eye. Especially with the benefit of
hindsight regarding twentieth century national struggles (as
led by nationalist movements), I reckon it is unforgiveable
not to do so.

Regards
Tahir