[Marxism] Strength or weakness?

[David Amis <daveamis@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The recent Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) negotiations
in Miami saw protests which were met by a violent police
response aimed at disrupting any attempt to get an alternative
message across and to demoralise the protestors. The tactics of
the police are described in this report from Naomi Klein, 'From
FTAA Lite to War Lite' <http://www.nologo.org/>. Suffice to
say, they were brutal with protestors clubbed and tear gassed
off the streets. The Miami Police Chief John Timoney,
classified FTAA opponents as "outsiders coming in to terrorize
and vandalize our city." Any form of dissent was clearly not
going to be tolerated.

This may sound perverse but a heavy handed policing operation
designed to stifle any show of dissent is not the hallmark of
an elite that is confident about itself. A ruling elite at ease
with itself would have allowed a protest and would have then
calmly stated its case using the force of argument. I realise
that protestors who were on the receiving end of a brutal
police response will find this strange but a massive show of
force does not signify confidence on the part of the
perpetrators - it signifies fear behind the arrogance.

On the other hand, the reports of the seemingly tolerant
approach taken by the Metropolitan Police in London during the
recent visit of George Bush would suggest a British political
elite completely at ease with itself. Yet a cursory glance at
the British media reveals a government that has run out of
steam and has lost the trust of the electorate. The question
I'm grappling with is whether the tone of the policing during
Bush's visit reflects the nervousness of the government in the
face of opposition to the war or was it simply a pragmatic
question of tactics? I'm leaning towards the notion that it
does to a certain extent reflect a lack of confidence but
tactical considerations were also important.

Two very different approaches to dealing with protest and
dissent, but both reflect a lack of confidence and coherrence
within the ruling class of the West. Okay, this may just be my
perception but I'd be interested to know what other activists
think and more importantly, how this can be exploited.

Spiked Online <"http://www.spiked-online.com/";> are renowned
for their commentaries on the theme of Western elites lacking
confidence in their project. Despite my differences with them,
the analysis is one I would have to agree with. However, I
strongly disagree with Spiked's view that this lack of self
belief is a problem (strange but true - they really do see this
as a problem!). Mind you, given the strange, corporate
bedfellows Spiked has at the moment along with their dogmatic,
technocratic vision of progress, I suppose it is inevitable
they would see this as problematic.

The lack of self belief and confidence in the Western elites,
while it may manifest itself in different ways, is good news
for those of us who do have a vision of a progressive and
humane future - it's an opportunity to be seized with both
hands...

Regards,
Dave A
<http://www.geocities.com/leftoutlook/index.html>