It is so easy to point out the failures of the social movements in the last decades, especially in regards to socialism and communism. It is quite a mistake to take any event or movement out of its historical period in order to humiliate it and nail a sign: Marxism failed. This is what capitalist ruling circles do and what they aim for. Besides, if Marxists [Historical materialists] should analyze anything, it should be everything. Is it so difficult to analyze the very forces that have waged war against those movements, especially communist movements? Apparently it is, and yet an understanding of these forces must be understood if events and Marxism itself is to be understood properly. As much as Analytical Marxism seems to analyze the real world and why marxism was a tragic failure, it does not bear in mind the flow of revolution and the ebbing of revolution in history. For such an understanding would shed light on the constant struggle that is being waged between reactionary and revolutionary forces today.
For self-described Analytical Marxists and Historical Materialists, the focus seems to be more on Marxism as something to poke and prod at, rather than the real world in which the real poking and prodding must take place. Bourgious would have you analyze Marx, rather than the world itself. Yet for Marx and for revolutionaries, the world itself was their prime focus because it was at stake.
Regardless of all the events and facts taken out of historical contexts, the words you have express conveys as having no role in the world today. And that is precisely where, spectating "marxists" [those who consider themselves as much in their analysis of Marx] are defeated, and where the Bourgeios wants any social movement to go. To quote the famous Jedi Master Yoda: "The dark side clouds everything."
The point is to not degrade or shut out any possibility for any revolution or social movement to take place, Communist or not. It is the wrong way to build any social movement...reality will determine what is needed and what will be. [This is the reason why I shun your comment: "This is not going to change." unless you have foreknowledge of the future, this comment can not be taken seriously in any sort of analysis]
Best regards, Joshua
"In the world through which I travel, I am endlessly creating myself." -Frantz Fanon
----- Original Message -----
From: andie nachgeborenen
To: lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
Sent: Sunday, February 09, 2003 4:57 PM
Subject: Re: Relevance of Marxism
...[snip]...
The Marxist states are gone, except for a handful to which almost no one looks for inspiration. The Marxist parties have withereed and died. Marxism is not a rallying cry for millions or hundreds of thousands. This is not going to change. Marxism as a movement is broken and discredited. The theory is in large part good, but a good theory is not enough to re vive a social movement. I don't say this development is a good thing, but it is a real thing.
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