Date: 26 Aug 96 10:25:04 EDT
Subject: Re: More on Mullen


Fame at last, I never expected to se my name in the subject area of a posting!
	Mr. Sciabarra says that Marxist tend to emphasize economic and social
engines, whereas libertarians emphasize the state. This is true both for
pro-capitalist and anti-capitalist libertarians. The big question (and I think
ideological battle is just fine, preferably in a comradely style) is "Where does
the state come fromand what is it for?". For revolutionary socialists, the State
is a necessary and inevitable outcome of the division of society into classes.
It comes into being at a certain moment in history, plays a specific role.
	I would like to hear libertarians talk about this one. I think that left
anarchists ( the kind I know and like best) tend to reify the state (ie take it
as a given).
	For the debate between left anarachists and revolutionary socialists.
there are two questions : cooperation where possible in practice ( here in Paris
with the struggle of immigrants for residenc epapers this week both RSs and As
have been very active, and most fraternal). But in ideas there is a clear break,
and I think, no possible synthesis. I won't go through the whole argument here.
I think the seriously interested should compare (as far as is comparable) the
bolshevik's activity in 1917 to anarchist activity in Spain in 1936 : that is
the two main historical tests, when the two forces each (and for the only time
so far) had the support of the main section of the working classin a crisis
situation. Naturally, I personally believ the balance to come down on the side
of the bolsheviks. I believe the Spanish anarchists lost when they could have
won (losing in itself is not shameful, of course, but it is when you could have
won).
	Finally, and otherwise, I certainly don't blame libertarian ideology for
imperialism, any more than (if I might be allowed to throw out another of my
oratorical flourishes) I blame puddles for rainstorms. 
:-)
John Mullen
S.I. France



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