1. I would add as a correlation to your critique of Western Marxism post 85 the way that I notice
that Internet personalities and media consumption consume so much of the left experience online. You bring up the point that unlike Western marxists in the 40s and 50s, who lived in times where political theory was direct praxis and when Anti- colonial movements made politics, not a parlor game of debate but involved real stakes for peoples and entire nations. The mass isolation and siloing off of politics online into a consumer spectacle of ideological consumption, I think as a similar, about albeit smaller trap to the left to avoid. Politics and political theory must be made flesh through physical and real world action for it to have any import.
2. I wholeheartedly agree with your point that Gaza has forced many regular people who otherwise would be largely ignorant of imperial massacre to confront the horrors that sustain their daily life. I find your comparison to the conditions that engendered radical abolitionism to be apt and historically resonant. Between the sheer horror of Gaza and the seemingly ever more absurd and cruel reactions of Zionism, and it supporters is fueling a greater reckoning and confrontation with not only the utter suffering of the Palestinian people, but the maintenance of the American imperial system itself. I hope that some measure of justice can come out of all of this.
Agreed on the first point for sure. I think the most dangerous aspect is the promotion of leftist politics as a brand online, because that leaves much fertile ground for opportunists to label themselves as left and direct any energy that does emerge towards dead-end or even liberal causes.
I hope you're right on the second point. Polls all over the First World show a turning of opinion against Israel. Whether that skepticism is turned against the imperial system remains to be seen, but justice is sorely needed for the Palestinian people.
Thanks to Rob for the article. I found myself thinking it would go one way, but was happily disappointed with more interesting points.
Amazing analysis, would be curious where you situate Sartre in this picture as I find his concepts useful to understand the relationships between theory and practice you touch on.
Interesting read. I’m curious your position on Samir Amin’s work as you touched on many of his contemporaries and those in his network, so to speak. Also, given your analysis of nationalism as ‘irrationalist’ I am curious your position on PFLP and other Palestinian resistance factions whose theory and practice involves a nationalism of the anti-colonial variety.
1. I don't like Amin's work for essentially the same reasons stated in the piece. I'll explain at further length another time.
2. My point about nationalism is specifically about the imperialist or post-colonial setting. Indian nationalism serves no historical role except justifying Partition and oppression of Indian Muslims. American or other Western nationalism transparently justifies and abets imperialism. In contrast, Palestinian nationalism (in all forms) serves the very positive and necessary role of organizing resistance against Zionism and imperialism. Internationally, it rallies all progressive and anti-imperialist political forces. Most importantly, it fights and resists the genocide of the Palestinian people. The historical role of Palestinian nationalism (whether in the Marxist or Islamist variety) is to lead and galvanize resistance against imperialism. When analyzing nationalist movements, the essential thing is their historical role. Are they fighting imperialism or genocide (eg Palestinian resistance)? Then they must be supported. Are they demonizing local minorities (eg Muslims in India, Tamils in Sri Lanka) or supporting imperialist aggression (eg all nationalism in the West)? Then they must be opposed. Fanon's analysis is still relevant.
DM me to discuss Amin, please. I find his work to be quite relevant in updating Lenin’s imperialism thesis. I also find the unequal exchange angle to be relevant especially wrt your second point about anti-colonial nationalisms. I respect and appreciate your second bullet point and largely agree.
Brilliant article Rob.
Two points of comment.
1. I would add as a correlation to your critique of Western Marxism post 85 the way that I notice
that Internet personalities and media consumption consume so much of the left experience online. You bring up the point that unlike Western marxists in the 40s and 50s, who lived in times where political theory was direct praxis and when Anti- colonial movements made politics, not a parlor game of debate but involved real stakes for peoples and entire nations. The mass isolation and siloing off of politics online into a consumer spectacle of ideological consumption, I think as a similar, about albeit smaller trap to the left to avoid. Politics and political theory must be made flesh through physical and real world action for it to have any import.
2. I wholeheartedly agree with your point that Gaza has forced many regular people who otherwise would be largely ignorant of imperial massacre to confront the horrors that sustain their daily life. I find your comparison to the conditions that engendered radical abolitionism to be apt and historically resonant. Between the sheer horror of Gaza and the seemingly ever more absurd and cruel reactions of Zionism, and it supporters is fueling a greater reckoning and confrontation with not only the utter suffering of the Palestinian people, but the maintenance of the American imperial system itself. I hope that some measure of justice can come out of all of this.
Agreed on the first point for sure. I think the most dangerous aspect is the promotion of leftist politics as a brand online, because that leaves much fertile ground for opportunists to label themselves as left and direct any energy that does emerge towards dead-end or even liberal causes.
I hope you're right on the second point. Polls all over the First World show a turning of opinion against Israel. Whether that skepticism is turned against the imperial system remains to be seen, but justice is sorely needed for the Palestinian people.
Thanks to Rob for the article. I found myself thinking it would go one way, but was happily disappointed with more interesting points.
Amazing analysis, would be curious where you situate Sartre in this picture as I find his concepts useful to understand the relationships between theory and practice you touch on.
Interesting read. I’m curious your position on Samir Amin’s work as you touched on many of his contemporaries and those in his network, so to speak. Also, given your analysis of nationalism as ‘irrationalist’ I am curious your position on PFLP and other Palestinian resistance factions whose theory and practice involves a nationalism of the anti-colonial variety.
1. I don't like Amin's work for essentially the same reasons stated in the piece. I'll explain at further length another time.
2. My point about nationalism is specifically about the imperialist or post-colonial setting. Indian nationalism serves no historical role except justifying Partition and oppression of Indian Muslims. American or other Western nationalism transparently justifies and abets imperialism. In contrast, Palestinian nationalism (in all forms) serves the very positive and necessary role of organizing resistance against Zionism and imperialism. Internationally, it rallies all progressive and anti-imperialist political forces. Most importantly, it fights and resists the genocide of the Palestinian people. The historical role of Palestinian nationalism (whether in the Marxist or Islamist variety) is to lead and galvanize resistance against imperialism. When analyzing nationalist movements, the essential thing is their historical role. Are they fighting imperialism or genocide (eg Palestinian resistance)? Then they must be supported. Are they demonizing local minorities (eg Muslims in India, Tamils in Sri Lanka) or supporting imperialist aggression (eg all nationalism in the West)? Then they must be opposed. Fanon's analysis is still relevant.
DM me to discuss Amin, please. I find his work to be quite relevant in updating Lenin’s imperialism thesis. I also find the unequal exchange angle to be relevant especially wrt your second point about anti-colonial nationalisms. I respect and appreciate your second bullet point and largely agree.