[lbo-talk] Why Progressives Must Embrace the Ukrainian Pro-Democracy Movement By Stephen Zunes

[amadeus amadeus]

Interesting that Zunes uses Georgia as comparison. Can
anyone say that Georgia today is truly "democratic"?
It's ridiculous. I think we can all agree, subtracting
the moralistic demagoguery concerning which party is
more anti-Semitic or more tied to Nazis, that US
geopolitical interests in general (and Bush interests
in particular) will be better served by the election
of the opposition, especially with regards to access
to the Black Sea. Does this mean that US
"progressives" (whatever the hell that means, best for
Zunes to keep it vague I suppose) should be crying
crocodile tears of joy once the idealism of democracy
cascades into the bread basket like milk and honey,
should Yuschenko win the day? Doubtful-- I can't think
of any country post-WWII that the US has meddled in
(even if under the imprimatur of "reputable NGOs"
hahaha) that has anything resembling true democracy. A
veneer of political democracy perhaps, but certainly
not democracy in the social sense. Political democracy
for economically oppressed countries subjecting
themselves further to "neo"liberal policies usually
signifies rolling heads and inflatable bellies,
followed by a backward slide into dictatorship
(political and social). Look at Russia itself,
"liberated" by Reaganites and now curtailing civil
liberties Patriot Act-style while resorting to
post-Soviet "social imperialism" just to stay miles
behind the 8-ball. 
I also find it amusing that self-styled US pragmatists
who failed to elect a Democrat via negative assertion
might now be championing "democracy" in some far off
land, all the while staying well away from any
worthwhile attempt to account for flaws in the US
elections. Kind of reminds me of those dolts
supporting the Sandinistas from their Berkeley dorm
room with the usual displaced vigor. Cowardly in
Babylon, I think.     --adx


> Why Progressives Must Embrace the Ukrainian
> Pro-Democracy Movement
> By Stephen Zunes
> 
> Some elements of the American left have committed a
> grievous error,
> both morally and strategically, in their failure to
> enthusiastically
> support the momentous pro-democracy movement in the
> Ukraine. After
> more than three centuries of subjugation under
> Russian rule--first
> under the czars and then under the
> communists--followed by a dozen
> years of independence under corrupt and autocratic
> rule, the Ukrainian
> people appear to be on the verge of a new era of
> freedom. This
> development is significant, given that--with a
> population and land
> mass comparable to France, rich in minerals, fertile
> farmland, and
> modern industry--a democratic Ukraine could become a
> pivotal,
> independent player in European and international
> affairs. But rather
> than embracing this inspiring triumph of the human
> spirit against
> authoritarianism and repression, much of the left
> media has focused
> instead upon the opposition's shortcomings and on
> the double standards
> and questionable motivations of the Bush
> administration's support for
> the movement. Although these concerns are not
> without merit, they miss
> the fact that we are witnessing one of the most
> notable popular
> democratic uprisings in history. Furthermore, the
> left's lukewarm
> response has given both the right and the mainstream
> media an
> opportunity to brand the entire progressive
> community with allegations
> that we oppose freedom and democracy.
> 
> Stephen Zunes is a professor of politics and chair
> of the Peace &
> Justice Studies Program at the University of San
> Francisco and the
> Middle East editor for Foreign Policy In Focus
> (http://www.fpif.org).
> He is the principal editor of Nonviolent Social
> Movements (Blackwell
> Publishers, 1999).
> 
> The complete text is available online at
> http://www.fpif.org/papers/
> ukraine2004.html
> 
> 
> -- 
> Michael Pugliese
> ___________________________________
>
http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk
> 

		
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