[Marxism] Loss of Calvin Broadbent

["DoC" <donaloc@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

All,

I am sorry to hear that Calvin felt it necessary to unsubscribe as a
result of the recent discussion on labour aristocracy.

I think that it is clear that the era of social democracy was not just
an ideological compromise forced on the bourgeoisie - but it represented
the failure of the western proletariat to go sufficiently revolutionary.
At times this was not the case but it was generally the case. As
marxists, we must understand that this shirking away of the western
proletariat from outright revolution had at root a materialist
explanation. The economic factor is the final determinant not cultural
or ideological factors as propounded by Gramsci (although these are
important factors at the same time).

Lenin started to arrive at these conclusions in some of his work in
post-Revolutionary Russia when he was trying to grasp with the failure
of the West to follow up the Bolshevic success. The theories of the
labour aristocracy needed development.

I think that it is beyond doubt that in the West the unionised workers
represent an aristocracy of labour to some extent. Workerist conceptions
of struggling entirely through organised labour are, therefore,
necessarily self-limiting.

Someone correctly noted that the situation which Calvin was presenting
was precisely that of the 'Republic' of Ireland. I think that this was
an insightful comment. Ireland has experienced an economic boom as a
result of opening up itself as a platform for TNCs entering the EU
market. It's labour force experienced a rise of employment and something
of a marked increase in wage levels. It certainly wasn't a case of a
rising tide lifting all boats as, to entice FDI, the Dublin Govt had to
slash taxation and public spending leading to the Twenty-six Counties
becoming the most inequitable country in the west (aside from the USA).

What the country is now facing is a torrent of inward migration largely
from Poland, Russia and the former Soviet Republics. This is producing a
downward pressure on wages at a time when houseprice, credit and
consumer inflation remains high. There is obviously a response to this
aggression and to date, thankfully, it has not been racist although I
myself heard a leading light in the Irish TUM speaking about
displacement in terms which were close to the bone.

It is very difficult to chart a correct course in meeting this
challenge. I do think that Sinn Fein, a party committed to socialist
revolution in Ireland, is doing a decent enough job of it despite
pressures. Of course, this is in the context of non-engagement in most
forms of governmental control so the jury is still out whether the party
will stick to its guns when it finally gets into power.

>From an organising perspective, I think that there is clearly a need to
organise immigrants - which is what the TU are trying to do. But this is
difficult work as many of those coming in have little experience of TU
membership. My understanding is that in the USA the fastest growing and
most radical unions are ones organising the immigrants from latin
america or other ethnic minorities/nationalities.

I'm not sure that I agree with Calvin that the existing unions are
necessarily the best organs for doing this - but perhaps I am
misrepresenting him here. What is clear is that minimum wage guarantees
need to be rigorously applied to all. Anyone serious about creating
social revolution needs to be very wary of the dangers associated with
racist divisions in the working class and aware of the importance of
recruiting ethnic minorities to the party/movement.

Le meas,
DoC.

________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism