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

[Rob Schaap <carob@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

G'day Mine,

>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.

That's old evidence, Mine.  How'd you reckon a working class revolt would
look in a peripheral country today?  'A visit from the Marines' as Chas put
it the other day?  A quick mortal currency plunge?  We have to rethink
social transformation in this day and age, I submit.

>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!

Waddya reckon our attitude should be today - in THIS historical moment?

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

Too true.  And it's very difficult, Mine.  I keep coming back to the
relative power of US economic and political clout, and its demonstrable
willingness to apply it.  Is the US the most decisive power in history?  If
so, what does it depend on for the maintenance of that power?  Over which
decisive external and internal phenomena has it least sway (I do note the
US's PR image is at an all-time low, for instance - but that is still taking
more a cultural-prejudice/petulant indignation/jealousy form than that of a
systemic critique - we shall have to wait and see if and how N30 develops)?
In what circumstances, if any, could an initially domestic peripheral
revolution hope to get anywhere right now?

Can't imagine any such circumstances at the moment ...

Cheers,
Rob.