Re: [Marxism] The ISO, "State capitalist theory", and dialectics

[Adam <cleon42@xxxxxxxxx>]

The ISO has been a subject of much discussion in Solidarity; as many
know, the ISO's leadership has been critically evaluating its role in
the Left and has turned an eye towards improving relations with other
groups they find themselves working with (notably Soli). Some comrades
in Soli have been overenthusiastic about it, wanting to fuse with them
at the earliest opportunity.

This new relationship with the ISO, and the differences between our
organizations, was the subject of much discussion at the Soli summer
school this past summer, where Ahmed Shawki spoke and participated in a
number of discussions.

There is much to be admired about the ISO; the youthfullness of the
organization, its capability to mobilize people, and hell, Socialist
Worker's a pretty decent paper.

The problem with the ISO, as I see it, isn't state capitalism as such.
Don't get me wrong; I think state capitalism as a theory is bunk for
many of the reasons Lou Paulsen cited. "Undialectical" is a good way of
putting it, IMO.

But we have state cappies in Solidarity, too; a lot of the older IS
comrades in Soli stick to state capitalism like I stick to my morning
caffeine.

My problem with the ISO, and I told Ahmed this, is its political
monoculture. To be in the ISO, you *must* accept state capitalism. You
*must* accept that the Cuban leadership is reactionary. (There are
exceptions; some of the founding ISO members hold to "bureacratic
collectivist" theory, but they've agreed not to raise this within the
organization.)

I would not be welcome in the ISO. I disagree with the ISO about Cuba,
about state capitalism, about the national question (where my
perspective, and Soli's for that matter, is closer to Workers World's),
about all sorts of things.

The ISO is an organization of great potential. The *main* thing that
holds the ISO back, IMO, is that it won't allow itself to critically
evaluate its positions within the organization to any great degree or
allow members to discuss new political perspectives.  The moment it can
get the political monoculture monkey off its back, it could be a huge,
driving force in the movement.

Adam


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