Re: MARX ON THE FTAA

[Jim Farmelant <farmelantj@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fri, 20 Apr 2001 14:06:00 -0400 "Xxxx Xxxxxx"
<xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
>
> ----------
> > From: Jim Farmelant <farmelantj@xxxxxxxx>
> > To: marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: MARX ON THE FTAA
> > Date: Friday, April 20, 2001 1:01 PM
> >
> > Marx gave provisional support to free trade back in the 1840s as a
> way
> > for
> > spurring industrialization, thereby leading to a more rapid
> development
> > of the forces of production, an expansion of the size and strength
> of
> > the proletariat, and thus an intensification of the contradictions
> of
> > capitalism.
>
> None of Marx's _actual_ statements back in the 1840s suggest that he
> gave
> uncritical support to free trade (even in the name of developing the
> forces
> of production)

I don't think that we disagree here at all.  Marx's comments on the
merits of
free trade vs. protectionism were all always addressed from the
standpoint
of what was best for the workers movement at specific times and places.
Thus for the development of the workers movement in Britain, support for
the abolition of the Corn Laws was to be supported in order to spur
industrialization
there.  In the case of Ireland, Marx could support protectionism there on
the
basis of an "infant industies" type argument (shades of Alexander
Hamilton!)
since Ireland being a largely agrarian economy would require protection
so
that it could develop its own domestic industries.  (Presumably Marx
would
have been or was supportive of protectionism in the US at that time too
for similar reasons).

>
>
> >Marx supported the repeal of the Corn Laws in Britain.
>
> He also said that Ireland needed protectionism.
>
>
> > However, none of this implies that Marx would necessarily support
> > "free trade"  in out time as prepresented by FTAA, GATT, or
> NAFTA,
> > which after all constitutes quite a different stage in the
> development of
> > capitalism.
> > in the development of capitalism and where "free trade" is a
> weapon for
> > pitting workers of different nations against each other.
>
> True.
>
> ---
> Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
> Ph.D Student
> Department of Political Science
> SUNY at Albany
> Nelson A. Rockefeller College
> 135 Western Ave.; Milne 102
> Albany, NY 12222
>
>
> > Jim F.
> >
> > On Fri, 20 Apr 2001 12:16:35 -0400 Xxxx Xxxxxx
> <xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > writes:
> > >
> > > At 10:46 AM 4/20/01 -0400, you wrote:
> > > > >MARX ON THE FTAA
> > > > >
> > > > >More than 150 years before NAFTA and the FTAA (Free Trade
> Area of
> > > the
> > > > >Americas--the focus of the demonstrations now taking place in
>
> > > Quebec
> > > > >City), Karl Marx analyzed the significance of "free trade" in
> a
> > > way that
> > > > >is entirely relevant today.  Here are brief excerpts from a
> > > speech he
> > > > >delivered in Brussels on Jan. 9, 1848.
> > > > >
> > > > >Jack Smith
> > > >
> > > >Jack, this is interesting. Although I never actually checked
> what
> > > Marx
> > > >wrote on the topic before, Doug Henwood argued that Marx was
> > > "pro-free
> > > >trade" in 1848, even if "perversely so". In light of what you
> > > posted, this
> > > >seems like a misrepresentation:
> > > >
> > > >          At 12:17 PM 5/8/96, DOUG ORR wrote:
> > > >
> > > >         >I have a student who is working on a "pro and con"
> paper
> > > on NAFTA
> > > >and GATT.
> > > >         >She wants to find Web sites for both sides of the
> issue.
> > > Does
> > > >anyone know
> > > >         >of any?
> > > >
> > > >         For a perversely pro argument, try Marx's 1848 speech
> on
> > > free trade.
> > > >
> > > >         Doug
> > >
> > > I guess Doug has not fully read Marx's statement in 1848,
> saying:
> > >
> > > "If the free-traders cannot understand how one nation can grow
> rich
> > > at
> > > the expense of another, we need not wonder, since these same
> > > gentlemen
> > > also refuse to understand how within one country one class can
> > > enrich
> > > itself at the expense of another."
> > >
> > >
> > > bye, Xxxx
> > >
> > > >         --
> > > >
> > > >         Doug Henwood
> > > >         Left Business Observer
> > > >         250 W 85 St
> > > >         New York NY 10024-3217
> > > >         USA
> > > >         +1-212-874-4020 voice
> > > >         +1-212-874-3137 fax
> > > >         email: <dhenwood@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > >         web: <http://www.panix.com/~dhenwood/LBO_home.html>
> > > >
> > > >Louis Proyect
> > > >Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org
> > >
> > > ---
> > > Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
> > > Ph.D student
> > > SUNY at Albany
> > > Nelson A. Rockefeller College
> > > Department of Political Science
> > > 135 Western Avenue, Milne 102
> > > Albany, NY, 12222
> > >
> > >
> > ________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________
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