Re: Popular rebellion in Argentina?

[Alan Cibils <abcibils@xxxxxxxxx>]

At 1/24/2002, you wrote:
> Karl: This is incorrect. The popular actions on the streets and
> elsewhere are not a rejection of the existing order. To constitute a
> rejection of the existing order these masses would have to be
> communists. In general they are from communism. They simply want to have
> a more reasonable standard of living. They are reformists rather than
> communists. They are of the view that capitalism can be reformed into a
> system that is more generous to the masses. But this is to misunderstand
> capitalism's nature. Accordingly the reformism of these street fighting
> masses will reflect itself in their demands and slogans.
>
> For too long there have been attempts by radical lefties to present mass
> mobilisation as constituting an offensive against capitalism. This can
> only be so when the mass mobilisation expresses a communist as opposed
> to a reformist consciousness.

I begg to differ. As someone who has participated (and continues to do so)
in many of these protests and neighborhood assemblies, people ARE calling
for a change of system. They are not calling for the end of capitalism,
true, but as I am sure you are aware, there are many shades of capitalism.
In other words, reformists can also call for an overthrow with the existing
order. They won't replace it with the same system a communist would choose.

People have clearly spoken out against the neoliberal model which destroyed
the country over the past ten years. This was a demand that came from the
middle class, the unemployed, some of the unions, and many other
progressive organisations.

People have also strongly questioned the political system and the justice
system. As I write this, several thousand are gathered in the regular
Thursday "cacerolazo" in front of the supreme court building demanding
their resignation or removal.

So, as I see it, this is most definitely a demand for a change of system.
Maybe not a change for the kind of system I would prefer, but a change
nonetheless.

Also, it has been very interesting to see how people have become
radicalized. I live in a very middle class neighborhood, yet our
neighborhood assembly has issued strong solidarity statements in support of
far more radical groups, such as the "piqueteros"' (groups of organized
unemployed who block highways as a form of protest). They have also become
very radicalized by their personal experience with the banking system and
have a pretty accurate reading of the predatory nature of international
finance.

Alan


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