Comments on: The “Vulture Theory” of Socialism

By: Mike B)

Mike B) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 03:21:49 +0000

Thanks so much for link to Engels’ critique of Blanqui. This is extremely relevant in terms of critiquing contemporary Leninist factions to whom Marx might probably say today, “Je ne suis pas une Marxiste.”

By: [N.W.A.’s Second Album, Track Two] | The Activist

[N.W.A.’s Second Album, Track Two] | The Activist — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:54:43 +0000

[...] “play the game to win” and not just yell “kill the umpire” and as an ardent critic of nihilist strains of psuedo-leftism I have openly voiced similar concerns. Concerns that have caused me some [...]

By: Pat Buchanan and MSNBC | The Activist

Pat Buchanan and MSNBC | The Activist — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:06:54 +0000

[...] normally start with an accessible, self-effacing introduction followed by psuedo-intellectual claptrap? Yes. Does that mean that conservative mainstay and MSNBC contributor Patrick Buchanan [...]

By: Nostaliga for a gentler politics — The Activist

Nostaliga for a gentler politics — The Activist — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:52:23 +0000

[...] I admit that as a political radical I have a hard time accepting the basic ground-rules of American politics. But maybe this lonely distance allows me to [...]

By: Pedro

Pedro — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:57:09 +0000

I don’t see why you need to single out the leftists, there are many opportunists abroad.

I’ve always believed that the true point of politics was to distract people so the opportunist can take all the time he needs toward his goals while of course waiting for the opportunity, I cannot call some leftist a revolutionary because he just wants to become the very thing I loathe.

By: Bhaskar Sunkara

Bhaskar Sunkara — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 05:35:21 +0000

“The Greek Communist Party (KKE) is one of the last few significant ‘EuroStalinist’ parties. I don’t think it matters much how it viewed the riots.”

Their defense of past crimes aside, they do have around a half a million workers in their affiliated union and poll at around 10 percent. Our cothinkers in Greece are in SYRIZA, but I wouldn’t ignore or totally lose faith in the KKE. Certainly they have a significant base of support that any leftist movement in Greece would want to wield (plus, it’s not like that big union and that electoral support came out of nowhere, they must have been doing something right).

Of course this isn’t to say that the Stalinist aversion to the spontaneity of the masses hasn’t been on display in a lot of places — Spain in the 30s, Italy in the 40s, France in the 60s, Portugal in the 70s, etc.

I could be mistaken, but didn’t the ex-ruling Stalinists in East Germany integrate pretty well into Die Linke? This isn’t to say I see much positive in Die Linke (I’m more enthused about the NPA).

By: Bhaskar Sunkara

Bhaskar Sunkara — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:39:29 +0000

The point is that some leftist commentators see every crisis of capitalism or the status quo as an opportunity for a revolutionary upsurge. I’m merely articulating the argument that more often than not the forces of “reaction” benefit from these sudden collapses.

Crisies can be turned into “revolutionary billows” if there is an adequate level of consciousness / organization already in place (see my example of Portugal).

I agree with your stressing of the importance of consciousness and I absolutely would not put myself at odds with the anger of the masses. My only point is that real change happens when this anger leads takes on a progressive political character.

By: Pedro

Pedro — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 02:05:14 +0000

I think when you say revolution what you really mean to say is revolt. A rebellion is inevitable when the masses are pushed farther than they are willing to go.

When a mob of people riot against the local authorities after their brothers, and sisters have been brutalized and/or killed by the people that are supposed to protect them, is that reactionary?

I suppose you could equate revolt with revolution, if you understand revolution to be a 360% rotation.

I believe that a true revolution can only be achieved after a profound change in beliefs and understanding in all people.

By: Jason Schulman

Jason Schulman — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:13:03 +0000

The Greek Communist Party (KKE) is one of the last few significant “EuroStalinist” parties. I don’t think it matters much how it viewed the riots.

By: Bhaskar Sunkara

Bhaskar Sunkara — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:59:09 +0000

To address one of your points that I missed —

I genuinely subscribe to a few “metanarratives”. The ideas of the Enlightenment from which stem the universality of political rights and the concept of solidarity. I believe firmly in those principles and from that core I do label things “objectively” reactionary.

Granted, this is a highly contestable position.

One point I omitted from this article, but I’ve always found befuddling was that the left, even the Stalinists, didn’t have even the most critical bit of support for the Saur Revolution (as far as I can tell), but they supported the clerical takeover of Iran almost unanimously. Anyone have any historical insights into this?