Re: [Marxism] Tariq Ali

[Angelus Novus <fuerdenkommunismus@xxxxxxxxx>]

Joaquin Bustelo:

> I would urge AH to abandon whatever s/he imagines 
> s/he knows about imperialism "in a strict economic 
> sense"and instead study Lenin's approach

Lenin's approach includes the supposition that value
is no longer operative and has been supplanted by the
direct political rule of the "lords of monopoly."

Ironically, this is the same sort of nonsense we find
by neo-operaists like Antonio Negri, another who
argues for the obsolescence of Marx's value theory in
favor of a theory of direct political domination.

This rests upon a faulty assumption that the three
volumes of Marx's Capital are intended as a historical
account of English capitalism, when in fact Marx
clearly states that his intent is to sketch the
operating laws of capitalism at its "ideal average".

Personalistic theories of domination such as Lenin's
have very little to do with Marx's approach.  That
does not in and of itself speak against Lenin's ideas,
but when I observe empirical capitalist reality, I
find Marx's account in Capital to be unsurpassed.

> First, what is the cardinal idea underlying our 
> theses? It is the distinction between oppressed and 
> oppressor nations.

Is this what is meant by imperialism?  Again, this
seems trivial.  In competition between states, there
will be winners and losers, or if you like, oppressed
and oppressor nations.

I find abu hartal's position vis-a-vis Kosovo to be
gravely mistaken, but it might help if all parties to
the debate might clarify what they mean by certain
terms being thrown around.




      
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