Re: Lenin on terrorism and street violence

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

Lou Paulsen quotes Lenin:
>For example, four years before the revolution we
>supported the use of violence by the masses
>against their oppressors, PARTICULARLY IN STREET
>DEMONSTRATIONS [my emphasis - LP].

Marxist politics involves context, above all. Stalin robbed banks.
Should we rob banks now? Not only did the Russian social democracy
operated in the context of Czarist dictatorship, it had the support
of the overwhelming majority of workers. In other words, any
aggressive action against cops and army was sponsored by a mass
movement that had a dress rehearsal for socialist revolution in 1905.

In 2001, there is no similarity with Seattle, Quebec or Genoa. The
people who use violence in street demonstrations are young people who
live in squats or work in day care centers, etc. who have zero
connection to the working class movement or to any kind of
disciplined revolutionary movement. For them, fighting the cops at
these mass rallies is an act roughly equivalent to spring break in
Fort Lauderdale or going to a Grateful Dead concert. It is a chance
for them to let off some steam, while deceiving themselves that this
is some kind of revolutionary act.

--
Louis Proyect, lnp3@xxxxxxxxx on 10/06/2001

Marxism list: http://www.marxmail.org


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