Neo-Utopian socialism, including Parecon

[James Farmelant]

Although it is fashionable for Marxists to bash utopian socialists I
do think there is a place for the kinds of discussions that people like
Roemer,  Schweickart, Pat Devine, Cockshott-Cottrell and Hahnel-Albert
engage in because such discussions can help to persuade people
that viable alternatives capitalism are possible.  Even Marx & Engels
whose criticisms of the utopians are recapitulated by Lou thought
that they did make some useful contributions to the workers
movement.  I remember reading (in  _Capital_  I think) a passage
where Marx praised the experiments of the Owenites because
they demonstrated that modern industry could be operated by
the workers without the assistance of capitalists.  

At a time when many working people have been indoctrinated
with the myth "that there is no alternative" - to use Maggie Thatchers'
words - such discussion can help to persuade people that alternatives
to capitalism are both possible and desirable.  People cannot be expected
to fight vigorously against the bourgeoisie and capitalism unless
they believe in the possibility of such an alternative.  I remember
once when Justin Schwartz justified his concern with discussing
market socialism by arguing that he found such discussion to
be necessary  for persuading working people that a non-capitalist
future is possible.  Regardless of what we might think of Justin's
proposed alternative (i.e. market socialism) I think that his
point is well taken.  As long as we do not allow such discussion
to divert us from attempting to understand how capitalism works
and how it might be fought and as long as we do not succumb
to the illusion that social change can be accomplished without
class struggle then I think there is a legitimate place for the
kinds of discussions that Schweikhert, Albert & Hahnel etc.
engage in.

		Jim Farmelant

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