Re: [Marxism] Bolivia discussion

[Brian Shannon <brian_shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Jan 7, 2006, at 12:55 PM, Richard Fidler wrote:

> Old schemas and stereotypes are of no use. Events in Bolivia in the
> coming months and years will teach us all a lot more about the
> mutual interrelationship of the national, indigenous and socialist
> revolutions in Latin America.

I inverted the above two sentences. I guess the "old schemas and
stereotypes" are what we have learned from the Russian, Chinese,
Cuban, Algerian, Nicaraguan, Guatemalan, Iran (Mossadegh), etc, etc.

Let us also junk* all of Trotsky and most of Lenin (the part from the
April Theses on). The text for the new "schemas and stereotypes" is
Barnes's "Their Trotsky and Ours," from which the supporters of the
"growing over" theory represented in many of these contributions take
their cue. To this group, we must ask, as Cannon did of Shachtman,
what do you propose to substitute? Over 65 years later, Richard
echoes their reply: you'll find out "in the coming months and years." **

Unfortunately, broadly speaking, what we will find out will be very
much like what we found out from the above revolutions.

There are, of course, other "old schemas and stereotypes" to be drawn
on. If revolutionists are to adapt to and not go beyond the interests
of the "national bourgeoisie," can the "two-stage theory of
revolution" and "popular front" be far behind? They will never be
clothed with these names, but they are here in their full monty.

Brian Shannon

____________
* Yaroslavsky, under the direction of Stalin, only junked the record
of the November 1, 1917, session of "The First Legal Petrograd
Committee of the Bolsheviks in 1917." (The Stalin School of
Falsification, 3rd ed. pp. 101ff.) Richard Fidler at least is open
about throwing out "old schemas and stereotypes." Others have been
more cautious.

** As I was writing this, Louis has posted a reference to Engels.
This reference is also used by James P. Cannon in "Socialism on
Trial" which is on line at the MIA website. In it Cannon clearly
states that we desire a peaceful transition to socialism. One of his
examples is the election of Lincoln to office, who then defended the
majority of the nation from the rebelling slaveowners. In my opinion,
this is a brilliant example of literary legerdemain or revolutionary
smoke in the capitalist court. Cannon makes clear that revolutionists
do not expect such a schema to be reproduced. However, it is a useful
reminder that old regimes never fall without resisting by force.


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