Date: Sun, 17 Mar 96 0:55:00 EST
From: boddhisatva <kbevans-AT-panix.com>
To: marxism-AT-jefferson.village.virginia.edu
Subject: Re: Permanent Revolution and Nicaragua






	
		Mr. Proyect,




	This is a very informative post, and well done.  However, I have a
question about this quote :


" "The weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism to the
ground are now turned against the bourgeoisie itself.

But not only has the bourgeoisie forged the weapons that bring death
to itself; it has also called into existence the men who are to wield
those weapons--the modern working class--the proletarians."

When Marx and Engels wrote these words, they had in mind the
French revolution of 1789, the most representative case of a
bourgeoisie acting mercilessly and decisively against the feudal
aristocracy. The guillotine was a symbol of this aggressive stance."



	If the guillotine is the symbol of the French revolution, then the
stock certificate, the bank account, the contract, and paper currency are
also symbols, and instruments of the defeat of feudalism.  While the
bourgeoisie fell short of disposing of class privilege, they did eradicate
the hegemony of feudal class over capital.  


	
	I mean to indicate here that the economic revolution has been
somewhat short-changed in this first post.  I suggest that the answers to the
problems of all the failed socialist revolutions are to be found in their
lack of sophistication in exactly the are Marx and Engels outlined : "The
weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism."  The economic weapons
are the ones I am thinking of.  



	To the extent that the political revolution in France displayed a
reactionary tendency, the economic revolution throughout Europe became pure
anarchy.  That anarchy was impossible for feudal powers to contain.  The
economic revolution in Russia was short-lived and demonstrates no programme
that has proved otherwise.  International pressure alone does not explain
this.  None of the Leninist regimes have provided a change in the dominant
relations of production.  



	I hope that you can link an economic diagnosis of Nicaragua and the
Leninist regimes with the excellent political one.





	
	peace



		boddhisatva






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