Does imperialism still need to be fought? A reply to Mike Ely

By Greg Butterfield

Despite our profound differences on many issues, I’ve always respected Mike Ely and his efforts to grapple seriously with the problems facing communists in our time. So it was with some disappointment that I read his piece “Perp Walking into the Future: Problems of Tankie Fantasy” on the Kasama Project website. Ely’s article comes off as a nasty piss-take on BJ Murphy’s “From China to Libya: A Critique of Kasama’s ‘Remembering the Rebels of Tiananmen,’” an article that makes important points and actually attempts to document them.

 

Ely tries to psychologically analyze “tankies” – that is, those who support the right of workers’ states and bourgeois-nationalist states to defend themselves against counter-revolution and imperialist subversion – accusing them of opposing the agency of the masses in favor of a “gray police state.” Much of it comes off sounding like a personal attack on Murphy, but throwing this blanket over many other genuine leftist fighters.

 

As offensive as it is, let’s focus instead on the political assertions underlying Ely’s article.

 

Ely’s version of “mass line” – that any rebellion is inherently good, and any existing workers’ state or bourgeois nationalist regime is inherently bad – is essentially an anarchist position, and leads into the same “above class” morass of supporting rebellion against any state, regardless of its class character and objective position in the global struggle of the workers and oppressed against imperialism.

 

Ely’s argument fetishizing any and all “popular uprisings” is an idealist one divorced from fact. In this it is similar to the received wisdom he expounds that a rightward political shift and/or pro-capitalist economic measures equals capitalist restoration (in China and the USSR), and that any government allied with these states is ipso facto not revolutionary.

 

This is simply inadequate for communists in the age of imperialist war and revolution.

 

Does imperialism still need to be fought?

 

Lenin’s analysis of imperialism and the national question was made to educate communists on the complexities of the struggle in the age of imperialist war and revolution. Ely’s position, in contrast, has no nuance: All existing states are capitalist and all capitalist states are equally bad.

 

Even if your position is that there are no “real” workers’ states today, this view is problematic. Is it really right for communists to support uprisings fueled (overtly or covertly) by imperialism against the governments of bourgeois-nationalist states?

 

If only the struggle were so simple! Someone rebels, you support them. No analysis is needed; no need to confront imperialism and its war machine in a serious way; no need to challenge the preconceived notions of students and intellectuals or the media disinformation aimed at working-class people.

 

But no. This path leads to would-be revolutionaries cheering on counter-revolutionary events.

 

BJ Murphy was absolutely correct to draw a parallel between support for the counter-revolutionary student movement in China and support for the counter-revolutionary “rebels” in Libya. The same ideological confusion leads to supporting both.

 

Imperialism may be a paper tiger in the long march of history. But it is not powerless. It has, in fact, been on the offensive for more than three decades. It has agency. It has loyalists of many stripes and the profits of stolen labor to fuel them. 

 

It takes courage to stand up and support oppressed nations and workers’ states when they are under attack – when everyone from FOX News to the White House to social-democratic “radicals” are cheering on the other side as “revolutionary,” “democratic,” “liberators.” (It might be pertinent to point out that they use this same language when U.S. troops march in and occupy a country.)

 

Tiananmen Square and the Cultural Revolution

 

Ely upholds China’s Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution as the model communists should strive for. I agree; the Cultural Revolution was the highest advance toward socialism that has yet been made. However, the GPCR was not some idealized phenomenon that can be replicated merely with the “correct” line. It took place in the context of a global revolutionary upsurge against imperialism, from Cuba to Vietnam to Paris to Oakland. It took place in a world that had a powerful bulwark against imperialism in the existence of the USSR (despite its revisionist leadership).

 

As we all know, history isn’t a constant upsurge; it’s a dialectical process. What is a workers’ state to do in a period of setbacks and imperialist offensive? Should it give up? Should the workers and oppressed willingly surrender hard-fought advances to their enemies and wait for some perfect revolutionary movement?

When Ely denigrates the Chinese workers’ state and its defeat of the counter-revolutionary rebellion of 1989, he’s actually running down one of the major lasting achievement of the Cultural Revolution – the strengthening and politicization of the People’s Liberation Army and Chinese society as a whole – which allowed China to weather the reactionary tide that swept away the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, despite the deeply damaging inroads of capitalism under Deng.

‘Those who cannot defend old positions will never conquer new ones.’

I find the above quote from Leon Trotsky’s collection “In Defense of Marxism” an excellent rule of thumb. Trotsky was polemicizing with those who wanted to abandon defense of the Soviet Union during the period of the Stalin-Hitler pact before World War II.

(The irony of quoting Trotsky in defense of regimes frequently associated with Stalin, against someone who to one degree or another upholds Stalin, is not lost on me. But of course there are many revolutionaries who uphold Stalin and do not share Ely’s view.)

 

It is quite a distortion of the views of me and my comrades in Workers World Party to say that we try to sell “gray police states” as an ideal form of socialism. I believe it’s a distortion of others’ views as well, not to mention a slander of the societies that revolutionary masses have fought and sacrificed to build and defend. It is, essentially, the crude anti-communist language of the ruling class.

 

For our part, WWP has always tried to present a balanced view of the accomplishments, problems and setbacks of workers’ states striving to build socialism and of bourgeois-nationalist regimes striving to be independent of imperialist domination. For this nuanced approach based in objective facts, we have been criticized from both sides: either we are apologists for evil dictatorial regimes, or we are too critical of genuine communist governments.

 

I don’t know of any serious communist who glorifies the need of a workers’ state or bourgeois-nationalist government to put down counter-revolutionary revolts and subversion. But it is the duty of communists to know which side of the class barricades to stand on, and to explain the situation forthrightly to workers and all of the people. 

The forces behind the massacre in Tucson, Ariz

Workers World Party Statement

Jan. 9 — Twenty people were shot, and six of them died, while attending a political rally for Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 8. The authorities are now saying they have evidence that the shootings were an attempted assassination of the Democratic Congresswoman, who is in critical condition.

The shooter, 22-year-old Jared Lee Loughner, was captured on the spot by people attending the rally in a supermarket parking lot and turned over to police. He is reported to be a mentally deranged person with a recent history of fascination with right-wing rhetoric.

At this point, no evidence has surfaced in the media or from the authorities that Loughner had accomplices in the massacre of so many people. However, evidence of a conspiracy may turn up later. Let’s not forget, all information is in the hands of the FBI and the Arizona authorities — the capitalist state.

But whether Loughner acted alone or with accomplices, this was a political act. It was not another Columbine. Its target was a politician who had already been verbally attacked and threatened by the far right. It must be seen in the context of the poisonous anti-worker, anti-immigrant, sexist, racist, anti-Muslim, anti-gay and anti-Obama offensive of the Republican right, working through the Tea Party, that has allowed a neo-fascist movement, even further to the right, to ride on its coattails.

Arizona has been the epicenter of this movement. Even the sheriff of Pima County, Clarence Dupnik, said that Arizona had become “the capital for prejudice and bigotry.” John McCain, the Arizona senator who ran for president in 2008 with Sarah Palin, is a war hawk for the Pentagon, which practically owns the state. However, McCain isn’t right-wing enough for Palin, who on her website during the 2010 elections showed a map with Representative Giffords’ district behind the crosshairs of a rifle accompanied by the words, “Don’t retreat, RELOAD!”

But this appeal to violent reaction is not just an Arizona phenomenon. Dozens of states are planning to model their immigration laws on Arizona’s infamous SB1070, signifying that powerful forces in the ruling class are getting behind this anti-immigrant racism.

The right and far-right — and often the “middle,” too — have been using the capitalist economic crisis to scapegoat immigrants, Muslims, unions — anyone but the super-rich who have milked not only workers’ wages and benefits but government social funds to keep their profits coming in despite the crisis.

The ultimate responsibility for this bloody act lies with the millionaires and billionaires who have financed the right in the recent period, beginning with the racist “town hall” meetings against the weak health care bill. They poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the last election to promote Tea Party candidates and the right wing in general.

At a time of economic crisis and mass unemployment that has lasted for more than three years, this kind of divisive, scapegoating politics serves the interests of the entire ruling class, all the way up to the summits of finance capital.

The FBI has now taken over custody of Loughner and the case. This is the same FBI that has been lawlessly raiding the anti-war movement and persecuting solidarity activists.

The FBI stood passively by when armed vigilantes calling themselves the Minuteman Project formed what amounted to a fascist militia along the Arizona-Mexico border and openly hunted down undocumented workers. The capitalist state was totally complicit in this crass violation of bourgeois legality. And on Jan. 6, a member of the Border Patrol fatally shot an unarmed Mexican youth, 17-year-old Ramsés Barrón Torres.

The FBI, Homeland Security and other government agencies spy on and monitor groups and individuals all over the U.S. Reportedly, the killer mentioned the American Renaissance Party, a known fascist group, on his Facebook page. This together with his behavior and other signs, such as recommending Hitler’s “Mein Kampf,” would have made him a suspect to be watched — if that’s what the capitalist state was looking for. But they close their eyes to the activities of ultra-right and fascist groups.

The Obama administration has responded weakly to this massacre, trying to reduce it to a non-political event — in the same way that Washington stood by while the semi-fascist Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Arizona’s Maricopa County was creating a police state for undocumented workers. While this resurgence of reaction is pushed mostly by Republicans, it also feeds on the weakness of the Democratic leaders, who have compromised and retreated on every issue, from health care to Social Security to workers’ rights.

This atrocious act is a wake-up call. The people cannot rely on the capitalist government to protect them from the ultra-right and the fascists. Progressive organizations, community groups, unions and all fair-minded people need to unite in a massive response to the hate and prejudice spewed forth every day in the political establishment and the media. They can be turned back. Now is the time.

No New U.S. War in Korea!

Friday, Dec. 3rd * 5:00 - 6:30 pm * 33rd Street & Broadway, New York City

United Rally: Speakers from Nodutdol for Korean Community Development and all supporting organizations

Join together to say:

• STOP U.S. War Threats Against Korea
• U.S Troops OUT of Korea!
• End the Sanctions Now!
• We need Jobs, healthcare & education, Not War
• Opposing war is not a crime: Stop FBI harassment of antiwar activists!

On Nov. 23, the government of South Korea mobilized 70,000 troops for a week of military maneuvers just off the border of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The DPRK said that these military maneuvers simulated an invasion of the north.

The military deployment was provocatively held right off the sea borderline between the north and the south. This is an area considered to be disputed territory.

On Nov 23, at 1:00 p.m., South Korean forces fired many shells into waters right off the DPRK. This is an area that the north has a longstanding claim to be within its territory. This claim had been accepted by prior south Korean governments.

An hour and a half later, the DPRK retaliated to what it saw as an attack on its territory by firing shells at the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong.

And now the U.S. has announced plans to send the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington and its battle group including war ships, destroyers and hundreds of fighter jets back into the area to participate in new war maneuver provocations.

The U.S. military has been involved in all war maneuvers by South Korea, back to the 1950-53 war, and has occupied South Korea since the end of World War II.

Why isn’t the media asking why the U.S. is orchestrating a massive military deployment of troops, ships and aircraft right on the border of the DPRK?

A unified action initiated by: International Action Center

Initial endorsements: BAYAN USA Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines, Bailout the People Movement, Bolivarian Circle – Alberta Lovera NY, December 12 Movement International Secretariat, Honduras Resistencia USA, Filipinas for Rights and Empowerment – FiRE, Fight Imperialism Stand Together – FIST, Jersey City Peace Movement, Movement Against War & Occupation – MAWO, Pakistan USA Freedom Forum, May 1st Workers and Immigrant Rights Coalition, Peoples Video Network, United National Antiwar Committee – NY, International League of Peoples Struggle

For more information call 212-633-6646

International Action Center, 55 West 17th St, #5C, NY, NY 10011

http://www.iacenter.org/

NYC: Stop FBI Repression - Rally at Rep. Nadler’s Office 12/2

Stop FBI Repression & Grand Jury Witch Hunt of Anti-War Activists!

Thursday, December 2 · 5:00pm 201 Varick Street (corner of Houston Street), NYC

Part of the week of nationally coordinated actions to STOP FBI REPRESSION and CALL OFF THE GRAND JURY WITCH HUNT

On Sept. 24, the FBI raided the homes and offices of antiwar activists in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Chicago. 14 people were served with Grand Jury subpoenas. All of the activists refused to cooperate with the fishing expedition aimed at targeting antiwar and solidarity activists as part of the “War on Terror.”

Three activists from Minneapolis/St. Paul — Tracy Molm, Sarah Martin and Anh Pham — are being called back before the Grand Jury in Chicago. If they refuse to testify, they could be jailed indefinitely. We need to build a movement to defend these activists and the others who have been targeted by the FBI.

On Thursday, Dec 2, at 5 pm, we will hold a rally and meeting at Congressman Jerrold Nadler’s office. As the Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Rep. Nadler has an important role to play in defending the civil liberties of all.

A delegation of of lawyers, civil and human rights advocates, union members, peace activists and other concerned New Yorkers will be going up to Nadler’s office to ask that he take immediate action to stop the Grand Jury witch hunt against antiwar activists. Please turn out to challenge the dangerous escalation of the government interference and repression against the anti-war movement!

Update on subpoenas and grand jury

Three active Twin Cities anti-war and international solidarity activists, Tracy Molm, Anh Pham, and Sarah Martin have received word from the U.S. Attorney’s Office that that they will be called to appear in front of a Chicago Grand Jury. This is a continuation of a campaign of federal intimidation of anti-war, labor and international solidarity activists that started on September 24 with raids on homes and offices in Minneapolis and Chicago and FBI visits to activists in other cities.

“Saying these three activists should appear in front of a Grand Jury represents a dangerous escalation of the government interference and repression against the anti-war movement. This is a scare tactic to dampen the right to speak out against U.S. wars and interventions around the world,” said Jess Sundin of the Anti -War Committee.

“The FBI campaign against anti-war activists is a major threat to anyone who questions U.S. policies around the world. Many of those who had been targeted in these raids are long-time peace, labor and social justice activists,” said Mick Kelly of the Committee Against FBI Repression.

For more information: http://www.stopfbi.net/

Week of Action Nov. 29 - Dec 3: Stop FBI and Grand Jury Repression

We are calling for a week of action to stop the FBI and Grand Jury repression for the week of Nov. 29 - Dec. 3. We are urging activists to focus on U.S. Congress people, demanding that they take action to stop the Grand Jury. Go to their congressional offices, or if that is not practical, to your Federal Building.

Three activists from the Twin Cities, Tracy Molm, Sarah Martin and Anh Pham are beingcalled back before the Grand Jury in Chicago, and we need to build a movement to defend these activists and the others who have been targeted by the FBI.

Dozens of actions around the country are already planned. Please contact us ASAP atstopfbi@gmail.com so we can list your action.

Actions and protests

1. Chicago, Illinois - Delegation to U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky's office
2. Mankato, Minnesota - FBI Raids: Resisting Repression
3. Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Chapel Hill: Jess Sundin, Antiwar Activist Targeted by FBI Raids, Speaks Out
4. Washington, District Of Columbia - CSFR Delegation to visit the U.S. Senate
5. Asheville, North Carolina - Activists Speak Out Against FBI Witch Hunts!
6. Vancouver, British Columbia - Protest in Vancouver, Details TBA
7. Washington, District Of Columbia - Protest at FBI Building in Washington DC
8. Seattle, Washington - Protest at FBI Offices in Seattle
9. Minneapolis, Minnesota - Minneapolis: Protest at Sen. Klobuchar’s office to Keep Anh, Tracy & Sarah out of Jail!
10. New York, New York - New York City: Rally at Congressman Nadler's Office

NYC: Stop U.S. War Threats Against Korea, Jobs or Income for the Unemployed!

Tuesday, Nov. 30th. 5:30 pm:

Action at the tree lighting at Rockefeller Center

50th St. & 5th Ave., Manhattan

(If unable due to holiday crowds to get to that corner, come to 53rd & 5th Avenue 646-353-2708 for more information)

On Nov 30, U.S. nuclear powered aircraft carrier, destroyers, missile launchers, submarines and jet aircraft will have moved to the other side of the planet to threaten a new war against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

On November 30, millions of unemployed workers will be totally cut off unemployment benefit extensions, because Congress is too busy continuing billionaire tax breaks, Federal Reserve bank bailouts, and the trillion dollar war budget.

GE, a major war profiteer and owner of the GE Building, along with NBC and MSNBC, all located at Rockefeller Center. Join us at the Rockefeller Tree Lighting as we demand Unemployment Benefits & Jobs, Not a Trillion $ Budget for War Profiteers.

The Tuesday Tree Lighting action is co-sponsored by the International Action Center and Flashmobsfor jobs, an organization of the unemployed.

Monday starting at 2 pm and going through the evening there will be a work session at 55 W. 17th, Manhattan, 5th floor. Any train to 14th St.

We are making creative displays and flyers for the Tuesday action. Your help is needed.

CALL TO ACTION: Online Demonstration for Peace in Korea - Sun 11/28 and Wed 12/1

Thanks to Nodutdol. Graphic by Jacob Anikulapo.

President Obama is sending the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (carrying 75 warplanes and a crew of over 6000) and other warships for additional war-games with the South Korean military beginning this Sunday, November 28.

Please read the following fact sheet that outlines the current situation, key facts and historical context to this ongoing armed conflict. Click here to download the factsheet.

This only escalates the already tense situation on the Korean peninsula and brings us dangerously closer to an all-out war. And the blogosphere is already full of hate-mongering rhetoric calling for “retaliation” after the tragic incident on Yeonpyeong Island earlier this week. Two civilians and two South Korean soldiers have died. We say: NO MORE LOST LIVES.

We need all those who stand for peace to call for deescalation on the Korean peninsula and an immediate end to the U.S.-South Korean war games. On Sunday, November 28, from 12 noon to 3 pm EST (9 am to 12 noon PST) and Wednesday, December 1 from 7 pm to 10 pm EST (4pm to 7 pm PST) Join the National Campaign to End the Korean War in a coordinated online demonstration!

1. Barrage the White House and State Department with emails and urge President Obama and State Secretary Clinton to immediately stop the joint U.S.-South Korean war maneuvers, and sign a Peace Treaty to end the state of war that has existed for sixty years on the Korean peninsula.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
http://contact-us.state.gov

2. Post replies on online media sites and blogs where they are discussing the issue and beat back the war-mongering rhetoric with calls for de-escalation and a peaceful resolution. Refer to the attached factsheet for talking points. Some suggested sites (and their Twitter accounts) are:

• CNN (Twitter: @cnn)
• The New York Times (Twitter: @nytimes)
• The Washington Post (Twitter: @washingtonpost)
• The Huffington Post (Twitter: @huffingtonpost AND @huffpostpol)
• NPR (Twitter: @npr)
• BBC News (Twitter: @BBCBreaking AND @BBCNews AND @BBC_HaveYourSay)
• Yahoo! News (Twitter: @YahooNews)
• Voice of America (Twitter: @VOA_News)
• ABC News (Twitter: @abcnews)
• Foreign Policy (Twitter: @FP_Magazine)
• Reuters (Twitter: @Reuters)
• Associated Press (Twitter: @AP)
• Politico (Twitter: @politico)

3. Post links to articles calling for diplomacy on listserves, blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Some suggested articles are:

• “North Korea’s Consistent Message to the U.S.”
by former President Jimmy Carter in The Washington Post, November 24, 2010
• “Retaliation, Retaliation”
by Paul Liem of the Korea Policy Institute, Nov 25, 2010
• “Crisis in Korea?”
by John Feffer, Co-director of Foreign Policy in Focus in The Huffington Post, Nov 23,2010
• Obama’s Only Choice on North Korea
by Tim Shorrock in the Daily Beast, Nov 24, 2010
• “Crisis in Korea?” Tim Shorrock: Direct Talks With North Korea Are the Only Answer to End Korean War
Tim Shorrock on Democracy Now, Nov 24, 2010
• “A Return Trip to North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Complex”
by Siegfried S. Hecker, Nov 22, 2010
• ““Review U.S. Policy toward North Korea””
by Bob Carlin and John Lewis in The Washington Post, Nov 22, 2010

4. Change your Facebook and Twitter pictures with the “One Corea” image. You can also use this image for your own blog or website. Click here to download the image. (Helpful Facebook tip: Don’t forget to adjust the thumbnail size after you change your picture)

5. Have Twitter? Use the hashtag #koreanpeace in your tweets to make this a trending topic. You can also donate a tweet (click here): I stand for peace on the Korean peninsula. It’s time to end the 60 yr old Korean war. #koreanpeace http://endthekoreanwar.org/

6. Have Facebook? Donate a status update: I stand for peace on the Korean peninsula. It’s time to end the 60 yr old Korean War. Learn more at http://endthekoreanwar.org

7. Tweet your elected officials and other world leaders about the escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula and demand an immediate halt to the U.S.-South Korean war games.

• Look for you Members of Congress on Twitter. Click here to look for their twitter accounts.

• U.S. President Barack Obama (@barackobama), the White House (@whitehouse) and the U.S. Department of State (@StateDept).

• South Korean Blue House (@BluehouseKorea) and the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade (@mofatkr)

• United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon (@secgen) and the United Nations (@UN)