Spiral, p. 1-17

kj khoo, malaysia, asked for an executive summary of the Spiral
(Boswell/Chase-Dunn). Here is one for pages 1-17 ("Introduction"), leaving
the other 250 pages for later.

The Intro places the book in the historical present, which is described as a
post-Soviet Union world, which created a dilemma for socialists (a kind of
new "what is to be done?"). After discussing some of the dilemmas of
contemporary socialists, the authors introduce their main theme: "Our
fundamental starting point is one of global democracy." (p.5) They then
develop (1) the theme that true democracy and true socialism are identical,
and (2) the theme that, in the year 2000 and forward, true democracy and
true socialism must be world-systemic, rather than only nation-systemic.
Capsule statement for that: "Global democracy is the equivalent of social
democracy at the world level. It is both the first step and the primary goal
of world socialism." (p.12) Pertinent Marx quotations along the way. The
remaining pages of the Introduction give an overview of the book's chapters.

This is my executive summary for p. 1-17 for kj khoo, just to get started..

Regards,
Gert Kohler
Oakville, Canada