psychology & Marxism [was: Gambling for Empire]

[Jim Devine <jdevine03@xxxxxxxxx>]

On 3/12/07, Yoshie Furuhashi  wrote:
> It would be interesting if someone attempted a theory of imperialism
> that mediates "socio-economic forces and structures" with
> psychological structures of the ruling class and the power elite.  I
> think Sartre once criticized Marxist theory for neglecting to provide
> such a mediating link.

I have long criticized Marxism for ignoring psychology (though such
worthies as Wilhelm Reich and Herbert Marcuse should be mentioned).

While individual psychology can be important, it's easy to go too far.
If George Bush -- arguably the most powerful person in the world --
were to change his mind on something important, it would immediately
unleash forces from the coalition that backs him to push him back to
their perspective. The most likely bad event (from the coalition's
perspective) would be a collapse of the coalition itself. After all,
Bush, Rove, & Cheney (not in that order) are important because of
their role in holding a coalition together that currently controls the
US state. But it's also possible that the coalition could dominate the
mind-change.

Further, only some types of people are able to rise to the top of the
power pyramid. There are a lot of filters. Dennis the K. will never
make it, nor will that guy from Iowa, Tom Vilsack.  An individual has
to be willing to serve big money to make it to the top. They also need
to be able to unite actually-existing social forces to form a
coalition to get them into office.
--
Jim Devine / "The truth is more important than the facts." -- Frank Lloyd Wright