In many ways this is simply fetishization of antiquated terms used by Marx. How is Chris' description of Bonapartism different from what is now called right-wing populism by contemporary sociologists, political scientists and historians? Especially the idea of popular cross-class anti-regime rhetoric during a crisis of legitimacy such as described by Habermas?
A lot of the criticism of what I am saying seems to be essentially complaints that I don't use the exact language used by Marx.
Well, so what?
Perhaps Chris can articulate where there is a real difference between Bonapartism and right-wing populism.
Perhaps Hakki can show where my definition of fascism actually conficts with anything said by Renton, instead of using insulting personal attacks and smears.
I don't get it.
-Chip Berlet
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]On Behalf Of Greg Schofield
> Sent: Monday, February 18, 2002 9:21 PM
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Subject: Re: Bonapartism, Fascism & our new order
>
>
>
>
> --- Message Received ---
> From: (Chris Beggy ) news at kippona.com
> To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
> Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2002 09:48:18 -0500
> Subject: Re: Bonapartism, Fascism & our new order
>
> Chris
> Are there other examples of Bonapartism, besides the phenomenon
> of Napoleon B(u)onaparte? What are its characteristics?
>
> Greg
> I will probably get this wrong as it has been many years
> since I read much on the topic (no-doubt I will be swiftly
> corrected if I have gone too far of beam).
>
> Marx developed the idea in reviewing Louis Napoleon III but
> aspects are directly applicaple to Napoleon Bonaparte, the
> former dressing himself up in the robes of the latter.
>
> Essentially it is popularist class leadership appealing to
> vast and contradictory class forces. It happens only in times
> of inherent instability and usually forms itself around a
> popular leader capable of posing as a national saviour. The
> critical part is that it appears to stand aside from the
> norms of power and have no class bias (an illusion of
> course). Peron in Argentina, and of course the Fascist
> demogues and many others can easily be slotted in (Jack Lang
> in Australia, and Lewy Long in the US).
>
> In some respects Bonapartism is a loose cannon satisfying
> no-one, and overly tempted to out-and-out corruption. It is
> reflected back on what must be seen as the class norm
> whereby ruling parties more or less represent distinct class
> interests and class compromises (ie conservative bourgeois,
> liberal bourgeois and social democratic variants). The norm
> is somewhat predicatable, carries on the business of
> governement in a rully fashion and bespeaks of some kind of
> social hegemony and stability. Hence the ruling class is much
> wider then governement, but given the parameters the
> government is capable of satisifiying most of the desires of
> this ruling social, economic and cultural elite without
> simply caving into sectional insterests and thus upsetting
> the apple cart.
>
> Bonapartism rewrites the rules on-the-fly and panders
> directly to sectional interests often off-setting one against
> another in order to empower itself. It does not in itself
> challenge the class structure but manipulates it in its own
> interest (that is a political power), at one instance it
> appears as leftwing, at another rightwing, it appears
> principled and corrupt at the same time, in short it can have
> a historical function of riding out a storm buried deep
> within the social fabric and it can also worsen that
> condition (Hitler's Germany being a prime example).
>
> Others on this list may disagree with most of of this, but in
> general I think this more of less covers the territory and I
> hope it proves of some use.
>
>
> Greg Schofield
> Perth Australia
> g_schofield at dingoblue.net.au
> _______________________________________________
> _______________________________________________
>
> Use LesTecML Mailer (http://www.lestec.com.au/)
> * Powerful filters.
> * Create you own headers.
> * Have email types launch scripts.
> * Use emails to automat your work.
> * Add comments on receive.
> * Use scripts to extract and check emails.
> * Use MAID to create taylor-made solutions.
> * LesTecML Mailer is fully controlled by REXX.
> * A REXX interpreter is freely available.
> _______________________________________________
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
>