Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 22:11:10 GMT
From: cburford-AT-gn.apc.org (Chris Burford)
Subject: M-I: marxism and islam


Interesting article from NY times. Clearly the hope is to understand
the new islam sufficiently to absorb its impact. Typically the article presents
the phenomenon as a style issue.

I suggest it is inadequate to regard the rise of islam as purely
reactionary in the negative sense of the word. We need a dialectical
approach that understands why to some extent at least it is a rational response
to the pressures of these societies. Why it is reactive.
I suggest the areas we should examine are:

1. The sense of collectivity, practical as well as spiritual.

2. The criticism of the destructive power of commodity exchange
and the superficiality of the cash nexus.

3. The political and economic power of western powers and transnational
companies.

4. The criticism of usury and the role of islamic cooperatives as forms
of resistance to advanced monopoly capitalism.

5. The hypocrisy of the west for example towards Algeria, Bosnia, Somalia.

Chris Burford

London
 
 
Chris Burford    (cburford-AT-gn.apc.org)



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