Re: Re: Milosevic out?

[Jim Devine <jdevine@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I wrote:
> > It's true that the ascension of neoliberalism in (and "Western" dominance
> > of) Serbia will rule out the realization of the potential of state ownership.

Yoshie replies:
> This is the main point we should focus on, since there has been no
> existing socialist alternative to the Milosevic government in Serbia.
> Economically speaking, the lot of common people in Serbia is likely to go
> downhill.  The Western Left should unite on the basis of this lowest
> common denominator (opposition to neoliberal & humanitarian imperialism),
> instead of fighting amongst us.

It's a mistake to focus simply on what's happening _now_ (when the left is
very weak). We also have to think about building the left up for the
future. That involves being very clear about what we're in favor of, along
with the strategies we use to attain those goals.

I think the trick is to combine differences on long-term goals & strategy
with unity in practice on specific issues. If people tried, they could
decide that abstract issues -- like the "transformation problem" of Marxian
economics or the exact class nature of the old USSR or even the nature of
the socialist ideal -- are only worthy of investing emotional energy in if
they have implications in practice.

> > To repeat, Ceaucescu, Milosevic, and their ilk make the capitalist job
> > easier. It's a socialist's job to prevent this from happening, if
> > possible. (It's an obvious point, but it should be stressed that this
> > does _not_ mean allying with the imperialists.)
>
> Easier said than done.  No one in the world has figured out -- in practice
> -- how to make "permanent revolution" whilst being attacked by
> imperialists.  Hence the current triumph of capitalism.

It's hard. But one thing I know is that if done right, a country that's
being attacked can do better if it mobilizes and empowers -- rather than
depoliticizes -- its own working population. The military model of top-down
rule works in a crisis, but over the long haul, the depoliticization and
disempowerment of the workers undermines the socialist potential.

Jim Devine jdevine@xxxxxxx &  http://bellarmine.lmu.edu/~jdevine