Date: Sat, 17 Jan 1998 03:18:38 -0500
From: malecki-AT-algonet.se (Robert Malecki)
Subject: Re: M-TH: natl chauvinism


Yoshie writes!

>BTW, I didn't say that we can "attribute higher European wages to a
>putatively combative tradition of mass social democratic labor parties."
>What I said is that in a place where the working-class *have* enjoyed
>social democracy, and the material and ideological conditions that go with
>it (a more generous welfare state and the ideological tradition that
>emphasizes social rights), for a significant length of time, the ruling
>class will face more resistance when they decide to impose neo-liberal
>labor discipline on the working class. Workers will be able to resist the
>capitalist offensive harder because they have material and ideological
>resources at hand.
>
>Yoshie

For some reason I just do not believe the above statement is true.I think it 
really depends and is linked too who leads the working class.. The 
tremendous turn by the LP in England, and here in Sweden has met some 
grumbling but hardly any serious organized opposition.. In England it has a 
lot to do with the miners strike and treasoness behavior of the trade union 
bureaucracy who back to the hilt "new" Social democracy in the form of Tony 
Blair..

In both cases it was the Social Democracy which is and was the leadership. 
In those European countries where their were or are sizeable communust 
parties and traditions resistance has been on a higher level.. (Germany and 
france)

It probably has more to do with conciousness rather then any social material 
benefits deriving out of post war Keynesian politics and the welfare state..

And even these countries where resistance has been higher to the capitalist 
counter-revolutionary attacks since the demise of the Soviet Union 
resistance will not last unless a new militant leadership comes forward...to 
take the reins and in opposition to the left overs of Social Democracy and 
naturally the Stalinists now turned Euro-Communists..

In fact one could say that the Euro-Communists have pretty much incoporated 
the politics of tradition Social Democracy and the Social Democrats have 
jumped into the camp of the bourgeoisie with both feet first..

Warm regards
Bob Malecki



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