File spoon-archives/marxism-general.archive/marxism-general_1996/96-12-31.174, message 9


Date: Sun, 29 Dec 1996 11:02:32 +0100 (MET)
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: M-G: cholmqui-AT-edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu,v.john-AT-uts.edu.au, 103527.1217-AT-compuserve.com,WGDCC-AT-CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU, nyt-AT-nyxfer.blythe.org,sjolley-AT-cypress.netc.net.au, cmbrown-AT-igc.apc.org,pje151-AT-worldnet.att.net, r_chase-AT-axess.com,kmf-AT-kmf.org,itusc-AT-gn.apc.org, pricedav-AT-polaristel.net,marcelh-AT-pinc.com, jjsamuel-AT-mail.aei.ca,70242.3106-AT-CompuServe.COM, govin-AT-metropolis.idt.net,intisa-AT-internationalen.se, mwatts-AT-fisher.biz.usyd.edu.au,trot-AT-vossnet.co.uk, global-AT-uk.pi.net,106244.120-AT-compuserve.com, amurawski-AT-igc.apc.org,micwill-AT-iprolink.ch, wuwu-AT-rawakore-nubm.wn.planet.gen.nz, socvoice-AT-gn.apc.org,AMARWICK-AT-WELLESLEY.EDU, pqa8520-AT-is3.nyu.edu,kle1-AT-cableol.co.uk., socinf-AT-inet.uni-c.dk, rgoforth-AT-u.washington.edu, tyler-AT-igc.apc.org, tkj-AT-hem.passagen.se, democracy-AT-hotmail.com,sui-AT-scranton.com, ordnael-AT-freenet.hut.fi,  


COCKROACH! #27

A EZINE FOR POOR AND WORKING CLASS PEOPLE.

WE HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BUT OUR CHAINS.

It is time that the poor and working class people
have a voice on the Internet.

Contributions can be sent to <malecki-AT-algonet.se>
Subscribtions are free at    <malecki-AT-algonet.se>

How often this zine will appear depends on you!
----------------------------------------------------
1. South African guns to Ruanda!
----------------------------------------------------
South African guns to Ruanda!

Nelson Mandela's government is shipping guns to the government in Ruanda.
Right in the middle of a "new" crisis in Central Africa. Thus Mandela is
taking sides in the new conflict brewing in Central Africa. Any comments on
the Mandela "foreign policy" in regards to this from our "marxists" on the list?

I would think that the ANC policy goes against the grain of any kind of
marxist policy. In fact supporting one ethnic group against another is in
fact more along the lines of creating jobs and military contracts for South
Africa and South African capitalism. And maybe rubbing a little salt into
the wounds of the cancer ridden African president in Switzerland who is
ending his life in the uttermost luxury as his former country falls apart at
the seams. Rather than any concious policy to find a solution and provide
leadership on the African continent.

Instead of supporting one military click against the other it would appear
to me that a program of South African proletarian Internationalism linked to
a program of developing both agriculture and industry in central Africa and
building and African COMINTERN and connecting it to the struggles against
the rollbacks, protectionism,
unemployment here in Europe and naturally a good dose of ideas that would
draw the American black proletariat into the struggle would be a far more
powerful weapon then the road that the present ANC leadership in Pretoria
are taking.

Once again we see the complete bankruptcy of in this case third world
nationalism which pits ethnic group against ethnic group, one African nation
against another while the imperialist FN waits in the sidelines to pick up
the pieces after a new round of bloodbaths and mass starvation!

The ANC and the South African CP must break with this tradition and turn
towards a policy and program that can involve the millions upon millions of
African toilers in a desperate struggle to develop the continent,
independently of imperialism and its colonial lackies on the continent. They
must draw in the millions of foreign nationals in Europe and not in the
least the American black proletariat in this struggle. Armed with a program
of independent struggle of agriculture and industralisation of the African
continent and the building of a Socialist federaration of African states.

This is the only *real* way forward. Otherwise we will continue to see a
never ending round of crisis after crisis where millions will die or starve
to death as imperialism looks on and in the aftermath go in and once again
colonise the African continent as it defacto does today with money from the
banks today.

We should also keep in mind that the imperialist forces are devided and in
fact are secretly fighting over who gets which piece of cake while backing
up either one or the other "African" government against another. Nelson
Mandela's government appears to be taking the same road albeit in the
interests of South African capitalism and imperialism.

Break with the dead end cycle of African nationalism!

Break with all wings of imperialsm!

Construct and African COMINTERN!

Link the struggles to the European and foremost black American Proletariat!

For a Socialist Federation of African States!

For a reforged Communist International!

Bob Malecki

Richard writes;
>
>The fact that you speak of South African imperialism shows a lack of
>understanding of what imperialism is.
>

This is a reply to both Richard, but others who appear on the surface to be
very soft on Mandela and South African Imperialism. I would like to pose a
question to the list? Is South African Imperialism and Black troops led by
colonial lackies on any side better then French Imperialism?

Just because it is Mandela and the ANC that are the frontmen for South
African Imperialism, just as Olaf Palme was a front man for Swedish
imperialism does not in fact give imperialism and in this case South African
imperialism a human face does it? And if so why is it supportable where the
French occupation is condemed? If South African troops were to march in and
take sides would "marxists support this imperialist intervention on their
part? And finally it surprises me that most on the list are looking for
anything that moves to support (in this case Mandela and the ANC) instead of
going for a program based on struggle of the millions of toilers in Africa?


I see Richard, there is no South African Imperialism according to you.
Obviously there is no Swedish imperialism either. But i think you are wrong
on this.

In fact in Africa today imperialism rules through backing up the local
nationals and military clicks. The politics are usually based on
nationalism, ethnic differences, and who can best run the operation in the
interests of imperialism. And to think that the South Africans capitalists
and imperialists have dropped out of the game because Mandela and the ANC
have come to power is a pipedream. In fact it was because of that a wing of
the South African bougeoisie no longer saw aparthied as a viable way to rule
in their interests that Mandela was freed and dusted off for the role of
president. It was a concious choice by the bougeoisie in South Africa. They
saw the moderate and thoughtful Mandela as the only clear alternative that
could control the ANC and the situation in South Africa.

In was a brilliant move by the South African bougeoisie in order to derail a
real revolution in South africa. And its given  South African capitalism
some breathing space to consolidate a pro capitalist regime as the aparthied
system was collapsing.
But Mandela's and the ANC by making the deal have at best put themselves in
the position of the reformists of the second International and any gains
made can and will be taken back a little futher down the road when the South
African capitalists have once again consolidated its rule.

Bob Malecki

Richard writes
>
>Heita
>
>You are of course right - the ANC government has been selling arms to
>Rwanda and other countries for a long time. Tutu has raised his voice in
>protest but his arguments didn't create many waves. South African's are
>generally very insular and aside from hysteria about ilegal immigration
>foreign policy has never been a real issue. Mandela hangs out with all
>sorts of African tyrants (like Mugabe and similar filth) and his famous
>shirts are given to him buy the Indonesian government.
>
>The issue of arms sales to Rwanda was in all the Sunday papers yesterday
>but the the cabinet ministers concerned brushed concern off with
>contempt.
>
>I agree that they way forward must be a pan African affiliation of
>socialist states but at the moment that is a wild dream. Africa is
>on the whole governed by thieves and profiteers who are not interested in
>regional co-operation but instead prefer to make a quick buck smoothing
>the path for Western imperialism.

Richard, the United Socialists States of Africa is not a wild dream but a
concious goal for Communist Internationalists. Yes, Africa is governed by
lots of governments who's only wish is to serve their imperialist masters.
That is the reason for Pan African Communist parties along the lines of the
Bolsheviks connected to a revolutionary International and parties in the
rest of the world.
>
>I'm not sure that co-operation with the black American proletariat in the
>answer though. It seems to me that African elites bennefit tremendously
>from their association with black Americans. The Americans come over here
>for a couple of days, kiss the tarmac on the airport when they arrive and
>the then spend the rest of their time in 5 star hotels with local elites.
>The elites get tremendous respect through their associations with the
>Americans and are able to legitimise their position in the eyes of the
>poor and disspossed.

There are black Americans and Black Americans! The point is that what is
needed is political leadership for the millions and millions of blacks all
over the world. A serious communist Bolshevik party could become the
catalist and provide the leadership that is lacking both in South Africa,
but Africa as a whole and especially the American black proletariat which
does not have a political leadership but is sucked into supporting the
Democratic Party by a black middle class elite!
>
>Moreover while black Americans may be disadvantaged in their own country
>they remain one on the most powerful groups on the planet in terms of
>culture. Everyone know who the American singers, actors, sport people etc
>are and everyone knows the histroy of the civil rights struggle better
>than they know the history of their own struggles. Popular black American
>culture is incredably powerful here in Africa but the message it presents
>is not a socilaist one. On  the contrary it is clearly a consumerist one.
>It seems to say that "doing the right thing" is a question of personal style.

Yes, American black culture is powerful and it also is connected to the
capitalist structure in a very concrete way. Both culture and sports appear
to create the illusion that in America everybody can make it into the dream
world. This is hardly the case. And usually cuilture in the long run is
effected by who has the political power or are aspiring to take that power.
Thus any serious developments on the political front will find its
expression in the culteral establishment. A victorious Bolhevik party in a
few countries in Africa might make people singing popular hip.rock,blues or
whatever into groups singing the International to Conga drums!
In other words it is the political superstructure that decides this kind of
stuff.
>
>In my view black AMerican culture acts to dissaptate collective action
>and revolutionary thinking. I suspect that internation co-operation
>between Africans, native Americans. Australian aboriginies and other
>genuinely disempowered people might be more fruitful.

Well, oppression, oppresses and in America the big dream is one can and has
to fight your way to the top by yourself. It is a myth for the millions upon
millions of Blacks in the United States!  And only African and American
parties along the Bolshevik model can smash this myth wit a program and
tactics for struggling for political power. And the last is very un-marxist
in the sense that you write off the American black Proletariat for and
alliance with the American Indians (?) and Aboriginies... In fact both the
South African Proletariat and the American Black Proletariat are vital keys
to revolution both in Africa and the United States.
>
>The ANC disgraced themselves in Nigeria and now they are disgracing
>themselves in Rwanda. One can only hope that their opportunist self
>serving foreing policy disaster while encourage the Communists to
>separate from the ANC sooner than later.

What do you mean by the "ANC" disgracing itself in Nigeria?

Bob Malecki

Richard writes;
>>
>This is crap. It really pisses me off that Europeans and North Amaericans
>are incapable of ascribing agency to Africans. Everytime something goes
>wrong in Africa you feel compelled to blame it on imperialists or South
>African fascists. Africans are normal people who make their own choices
>and win their own victories and make their own mistakes. Apartheid
>crumbled because of unions action and because:
>1. The townships were ungovernable. (ie African kids were fighting soldiers)
>2. The government was broke. (sanctions)
>3. There was a crisis of confidence in the Afrikanner community bought
>about by young (and often socialist) Afrikaaner activists.
>4. They wanted to be able to play rugby again.
>
>White South Africa was shitting its collective itself at the time of
>transition. Mandela was an unknown factors and there was no certainty
>that he would be the first president. The ANC is a democrartic
>organisation and Mandela was elected by the membership and was most
>certainly not foisted on to the people as part of a bourgoise plot. This
>is patronising crap. Remember also that for years after his release
>Mandela publicly advocated nationalisation of the "commanding heights of
>the economy."

Richard, I think you misunderstand what I say. So I will explain it in
another way. Social Democracy of the second International is usually
"democratic" in the above sense also. However that does not mean that the
bougeoisie do not use these parties in a serious crisis to combat events
getting out of control. Thus after the second world war Social Democracy and
bougeois democracy was used as a stick in order to control the situation and
not in the least some of the western "communist" parties. Just as in the
pre-war situation in Germany in the thirties the capitalists backed the
Nazis's in the end. Because that was the only solution they had! In Africa I
am quite sure that the best solution for the bougeoisie was to play the ANC
card. Because despite the unknown factor, you claim, was in fact the only
card they really had to play in the situation.

>
>Apartheid was overturned by the blood and suffering of thousands of
>people and not as part of some cunning bourgoise plot. Give credit where
>credit is due. You are absolutely correct in your view that there has
>been a deal between white capital and the new elite but this bribery is a
>recent development and is no plot. It's a simple case of capital handing
>over some of it assets in order to save itself. As I explained in an
>earlier posting this is exactly what English/Jewish capital did when the
>Afrikaaners first took power. It's a survival strategy.

Naturally the above is true! And the ANC was certainly part of that movement
and led it. But this does not mean that one has to give the ANC political
support because i am quite sure from a distance they have never had a
program for real revolution in South Africa or anywhere else. And one of the
reasons why Communists Internationalists could never give any kind of
political support to the ANC then or even more now! In fact all the steps
they have taken since making the deal! Is in and entirely different direction.
>
>There was a war between the people and the partheid government and the
>people won it. After the war many of the formerly socialist leaders were
>seduced by the MErcedes and the dollar but that is a separate development.
>Mandela is no puppet - he is just a conservative old man.

No! This is a truth but in the following context! There was a war against
the Aparthied system and the people were winning it and in a orderly retreat
the South African bougeoisie made a deal with the ANC and vice versa to save
the capitalist super structure from falling into the abyss along with
apathied! And with the deal the ANC
leadership made a sharp turn to the right because they had made it into the
halls of power and the Mercedes stuff.

The same thing in a sense can be seen in the middle east with the
development of the PLO after making the deal. Although the situation is more
unstable then in South Africa.

In fact many of the leaders have lived in exile and so called democratic
imperialist countries and certainly have been effected by both the life
style and the politics to become a part of that mainstream of pro-capitalist
politicians. Many times I compare this to the trade union bureaucracy in a
sense that gets bought off time and again by the bosses and their parties.
While the pyramid of skulls just keeps getting bigger and bigger!

Bob Malecki
Richard writes;
>
>You are totally correct in saying that the ANC never had a plan for a
>real revolution. Indeed their plan is "restructuring of state assets"
>which means privatisation! However it is hard for South Africans not to
>feel some loyalty to the orgainisation. Liberalism is a lot nicer
>than fasicism. Fascisim maybe more honest but Mandela is so much more
>civilised than Botha etc that its not surprising that people revel in his
>leadership. However it is slowly becomming clear to many people that
>poverty and unemployment are on the rise since the ANC took over and that
>the new elite have sold out. That is why so many people are waiting for
>the Communists and the unions to break away from the ANC.
>
and futher on Richard wrote;
>
>I agree with all of this and think you put it very nicely. My point was
>merely that the ANC and its leaders are not puppets. They have made their
>decisions independently - they had choices and they and not the
>bougouisie must therefore be held accountable for their choices.

Well Richard, actually the process you describe about the ANC is not new. We
had the February and October revolutions in Russia! However, to believe that
the South African CP will break with the ANC I find from a distance pretty
doubtful. Perhaps a left pressure group on the ANC and its more
pro-bougeoios politics can be seen. However, the history of the CPs is not
any pretty sight anywhere and i doubt that the CP in South Africa differs
very much from its sister parties in Europe or in Latin America. However
perhaps you could give some background and prove me wrong on that point.

What is needed in South Africa as elsewhere is a sharp break with both the
Nationalist elements like the ANC (who historically everywhere they have
taken power in Africa get sucked into both conciously and unconciously the
politics of imperialism and the local bougeoisie.) A sharp break with the
historic tradition of the CP's is neccessary becvause of their history of
supporting popular front coalitions and governments instead of fighting
openly in the imterests of poor and working class people on a program which
leads to power. This must be done INDEPENDENTLY of all bougeois formations
and rotten blocks and coalitions. The communists can only base their support
on the millions of poor and working class people and an independent struggle
for power. this must be connected to the other African countries and in the
final analisis the entire world because that is the only *real*solution to
our problems. The traditional marxist saying that "a working man has no
country" must be put in the front room again.

This in direct opposition to the present policies of the CP's
internationally who are always talking about "stages" of revolution in order
to block with the so called "progressive" forces against the reactionary
forces. But in reality is a direct betrayal of poor and working class people!

Yes you are absolutely RIGHT!" about the ANC being responsible for its
politics and communists must build an organisation that counters those
poltics in the interests of the South African proletariat and poor people,
but linked to a strategy and tactics which will draw both the surrounding
countries and the whole of Africa into the battle, and not forgeting the
importance of the Black American proletariat and the role it can play in the
heart of one of the major imperialist beasts!

In fact in your other letter you once again show your disappointment in the
American blacks. In fact you have a very superfiscal view of what is going
on in America. I too after 25 years of living in exile because of my
activities during the war in Vietnam must honestly say that i can not see
the day to day struggles going on their nor the conciousness of the black
population in America.

However. even from the polar circle where i presently abide one can see that
the question of the blacks and minorites of America is certainly one of the
archilles heels of America. Everytime a black person is shot and the rioting
and burning starts it shows the open divisions of American society to the
bone. On the surface we see people like Michael Jackson but under the
surface their is a burning desire in the black population to end the
historical racist and slave society it developed out of.

The problem is not the human material. That and the contradictions of
capitalist society in America show its ugly face quite often on the tele and
in the ghettoes! The point is political leadership and finding a way out of
the present deadlock that exists. That way out is in solving the historical
crisis of leadership both in South Africa, America as elsewhere for a
program of socialist revolution in the interests of the poor and working
class people independently of all wings of the bougeoisie and those parties
that purpose cooperation with their bougeois partners. This kind of politics
has been the problem with both the second International=F6 (Social Democracy)
and the Third International (under the Stalinists) for quite a long time now!

It is only by gathering the cadre for a new revolutionary International that
we can find the way forward. This process is both slow and difficult but it
is the only way forward. There are groups Internationally and even in South
Africa groups (at present fairly small) but growing in size as the crisis of
Social Democracy and the CPs grows.

It is to these groups we must begin to look for a revolutionary regroupment
which can lay the way open to the future. The second International was
declared dead by Lenin. The Third International by Trotsky. And the Fourth
International was destroyed by the Pabloists liquidaters. Only by once again
reforging the cadre of a new Communist International Tendency on the bases
of the history of the October revolution, the first four Congresses of the
Third International and the history of the Left Opposition (Trotsky) and the
founding docuements of the Fourth International that we can find our
historical programatical, and political roots.

It is your choice my friend. You are either a part of the problem or part of
the solution. But this I am afraid is the only way forward. If you think
there is a better way , well let's discuss it and see if we can find some
agreement.

Warm Regards

Bob Malecki

On Mon, 4 Nov 1996, Robert Malecki wrote:

> Well Richard, actually the process you describe about the ANC is not new. We
> had the February and October revolutions in Russia! However, to believe that
> the South African CP will break with the ANC I find from a distance pretty
> doubtful. Perhaps a left pressure group on the ANC and its more
> pro-bougeoios politics can be seen. However, the history of the CPs is not
> any pretty sight anywhere (including the Cuban CP) and i doubt that the CP
> in South Africa differs very much from its sister parties in Europe or in
> Latin America. However perhaps you could give some background and prove me
> wrong on that point.

The SACP does of course have a history of being a Soviet puppet but it
also has some incisive thinkers and huge credibility with working people.
American culture is fast dissapating the revolutionary consciousness that
existed in the eighties but South African unions are still very powerful
and in fact are beginning to challenge the ANC. I think that when Mbeki
takes over the ANC will become even more focussed on the black middle
class and its highly likely that a split might occur. Today the Premier
of the Free State, Patrick Lekhota, was fired for exposing corruption in
the ANC. He is the second high profile person to be fired for exposing
corruption in the last few weeks. Dissafection is growing rapidly amongst
students and intellectuals and I do believe that the split will come.

> What is needed in South Africa as elsewhere is a sharp break with both the
> Nationalist elements like the ANC (who historically everywhere they have
> taken power in Africa get sucked into both conciously and unconciously the
> politics of imperialism and the local bougeoisie.) A sharp break with the
> historic tradition of the CP's is neccessary becvause of their history of
> supporting popular front coalitions and governments instead of fighting
> openly in the imterests of poor and working class people on a program which
> leads to power. This must be done INDEPENDENTLY of all bougeois formations
> and rotten blocks and coalitions. The communists can only base their support
> on the millions of poor and working class people and an independent struggle
> for power. this must be connected to the other African countries and in the
> final analisis the entire world because that is the only *real*solution to
> our problems. The traditional marxist saying that "a working man has no
> country" must be put in the front room again.

I agree with this analysis totally. While I think that a non-bourgouise
party is a probability at the moment the possibility of an
internationalist movement seems to be nothing more than a dream.
Xenephobia is a growing problem here.

> This in direct opposition to the present policies of the CP's
> internationally who are always talking about "stages" of revolution in order
> to block with the so called "progressive" forces against the reactionary
> forces. But in reality is a direct betrayal of poor and working class people!

Yes, this the the theory that the SACP put forward. Like Fanon they talk
of two stages. National liberation and then class liberation.

> In fact in your other letter you once again show your disappointment in the
> American blacks. In fact you have a very superfiscal view of what is going
> on in America.

I've never been to America and do have superficial view. However when I
talk about America I'm talking about the way that American culture
affects us here. Even when it has radical posturing (eg rap, spike lee
etc ) it remains a vehicle for promoting consumerist values. 

> It is only by gathering the cadre for a new revolutionary International that
> we can find the way forward. This process is both slow and difficult but it
> is the only way forward. There are groups Internationally and even in South
> Africa groups (at present fairly small) but growing in size as the crisis of
> Social Democracy and the CPs grows.

Do you no the names of these groups?

Stay Well
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------

http://www.kmf.org/malecki/

Read the book! Ha Ha Ha McNamara,
Vietnam-My Bellybutton is my Crystalball!

COCKROACH, a zine for poor and workingclass people
NOW ON LINE
--------------------------------------------------------




--------------------------------------------------------

http://www.kmf.org/malecki/

Read the book! Ha Ha Ha McNamara,
Vietnam-My Bellybutton is my Crystalball!

COCKROACH, a zine for poor and workingclass people
NOW ON LINE
--------------------------------------------------------





     --- from list marxism-general-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu ---



   

Driftline Main Page

 

Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005