Re: Anti-Eurocentrism: Idealist Diversion from Anti-racism/anti-imperialism (fwd)

[xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

>classes, marginalized and stigmatized peoples.  Simplistic inversion
>positing europe as 'evil' and turning colonialist model on its head
>remains eurocentric since focus remains on Europe (and lets third
>world elites off hook).      Michael Hoover

historically speaking, there were anti-imperialist struggles that did not
necessarily let "third world elites off hook". in fact, as Marx said in
the Communist Manifesto, working classes should  "settle accounts
with their own bourgeoisie first". Evidence is Soviet and Chinese
communism, and other anti-imperialist struggles around the globe.

regarding the anti-imperialist struggles that let third world elites off
hook are called state capitalist models. One should look at the observable
differences between "state socialist" and "state capitalist" models. For
example, Nasser's model was still state capitalist although it named
itself Arab Socialist Union. The reason why it was initiallly suported by
Arab socialists was because it was seen "instrumental" in the struggle
against imperialism. everybody united for the common purpose, but the
outcome was different given the concrete historical circumstances of those
societies. Thus, socialists can not be judged for why they gave support
to anti-imperialist nationalists since it was historically a necessary
stage at that time! Just as affirmative action was necessary here,
anti-colonialism was necessary there too in terms of providing partial
liberation from colonial heritage (although they adapted a lof of things
later such as western education system). During the time of
decolonization, a lot of competing discourses suddenly converged:
nationalists, socialists, feminists, etc.. Now they constitute an
opposition to the nationalist regime, and denounce torture and others
sorts of human rights violations.

Anti-imperialist struggles and the position of socialists vis a vis
national regimes should be judged against concerete circumstances from an
historical perspective.


Mine