Date: Thu, 17 Oct 1996 15:34:53 -0400 (EDT) From: louisgodena-AT-ids.net (Louis R Godena) Subject: Re: Western factory workers...faceless and docile? I notice the Parson has forwarded a select few posts on this thread to marxism-general. In the interests of completeness, here's one more. With Marxism-International only 72 hours young, our own Parson Weems ventures out to smite the Unbelievers: >....on the basis of Marx's analysis of contradictions in society and their >relationship to social change the revolutionary potential of the working >class for overturning the bourgeois states and the capitalist system they >defend is axiomatic. Scepticism in relation to this is an expression of >lack of conviction in the scientific validity of Marx's analysis of the >fundamental processes of the system of capitalist production. Clearly, talking about real-life, which Allen Lucas' illuminating study insists on doing, conflicts with Holy Doctrine, as the Parson goes on: >So to call it the question of questions is merely to say "Are we convinced >of the correctness of Marx's analysis?" For someone who is convinced of its >validity, this is like wondering if the earth really goes round the sun. >Someone belonging to the flat earth society might think this is the >question of questions, but it isn't. It's a red herring. For serene pomposity and snappy illogic this compares almost favorably with what went on during the dreariest moments of Marxism 1. Anyone questioning the Parsonhood or its Ten Commandments belongs, properly, in the Flat Earth Society. Now, clearly, this will not do. A number of us--quite a number judging >from my personal mail--are hoping that Lucas' study would be a point of departure for a vigorous but respectful discussion on the revolutionary potential of the working class. We are especially interested in the current period (since 1968) and, though we are skeptical of any attempts to deny the working class its rightful place in the struggle for socialism, we are adamant in rejecting the practice of continuing to repeat formulas which have lost their credibility. We are not reassured by the present disarray of the Left, divided into a galaxy of minute warring sects, united only by their failure to attract more than an insignificant fringe of the workers' movement, and by the brave illusion that their prescriptions for revolution represent the interests and ambitions of the workers. We insist on having the opportunity to look at a number of alternative scenarios and, through the rigors of study, discussion and action, make up our own minds, the Parson Weems of the world notwithstanding. > >My own feeling is that, when the physical limits of exploitation of the consumer market are reached, and when the opportunities for the reinforcement of capitalism from without are exhausted in any given country, the clash between the interests of employer and worker may once more become predominant, and that the way will be clear for the long delayed proletarian revolution on the Marxist model. On the other hand, I must confess myself skeptical about this prospect. I am more impressed by the fact that the only considerable revolutions since 1917 have been in China and Cuba, and that revolutionary movements are alive today only in countries where the proletariat is weak or non-existent. With E.H. Carr, I should now feel tempted to say that the Bolsheviks won their victory in 1917, not in spite of the backwardness of the Russian economy and society, but because of it. I think, consequently, that we have to seriously consider the hypothesis that the world revolution of which it was the first stage, and which will complete the downfall of capitalism, will prove to be the revolt of the colonial peoples against capitalism in the guise of imperialism rather than a revolt of the proletariat of the advanced capitalist countries. In the unhappy meantime, I would beg leave of the resident epigones and their Appointed Parsons to stop reaching and get on with the proper tasks of Marxism-International. Louis Godena
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