Re: [Marxism] What if...?

[Benjamin Morgan <foreverblaze89@xxxxxxxxx>]

Comrade Ben:

First off I want ti say that what if thinking is bad. It distracts us 
"Marxists" from analyzing the material conditions we see occurring before our 
very eyes. However, since you are a newcomer and I want you to feel welcome to 
the list I will entertain your query.

Your basis of analysis is flawed Hitler stated that his conquest in the 
Rhineland was merely to test the French response. Hitler himself admitted  that 
if France had responded Hitler would have simply pulled back the troops. Your 
scenario is predicated on the thought that  Hitler was ready to fight and that 
the defeat would have forced him into isolation. This however does a lot of 
unsubstantiated historical manipulation. You would be required to imagine 
Hitler would foolishly send his unprepared forces to slaughter which would in 
turn reshape his entire political ideology  to the point of abandoning his 
aspirations for conquest. This seems like a poor slippery slope argument which 
magically transforms 1936 Hitler into 1945 Hitler. (who still wouldn't tacitly 
accept defeat) In a condition like this it is unimaginable what would or would 
not have been done by the Soviets. Stalin and his advocation of "Socialism in 
one country" most likely wouldn't have
 taken direct military actions unless provoked by numerous amounts of arbitrary 
triggers. Adversely, KGB agents would most likely be attempting to insight 
political instability within Germany; which could have provoked a German 
preemptive assault. In conclusion we should not fantasize about imaginary 
reactions to arbitrary events in hypothetical historical contexts.  It does 
nothing but allows us to wax nostalgic in the what ifs instead of focusing on 
reality. 


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