Re: The US Left & Palestine and WSN

Let me make some smaller points to pinpoint the discussion. I'll save the
main political points for last. I cannot and would not speak for the whole
"World Systems Network",  but I would suggest that WSN is not a "group."
While the "World Systems Analysis" developed by Wallerstein and others has a
strong "Left/Anti-imperialist"" aspect to it, and while the founders of the
"World Systems (internet email list) Network" have demonstrated strong
opposition to imperialist exploitation and oppression, the reality is that
the "World Systems Network" is simply a discussion list.

As someone who has been involved with this list for over 5 years, I can say
that it has become more of a broader based list, with the "World Systems
Analysis" viewpoint being very much diluted into a list that often just
discusses international issues in a very general sort of way. There are some
more "Left" postings based on variations of World Systems Analysis, of
various branches of Marxism, and of Lenin-influences analysis.  But there
have also been postings covering everything from a defense of the
perspective that human social behavior is largely defined by a person's
individual genes, to outright support for the most conservative of "free
market" philosophies, to various discussions about the energy crisis, to
cultural imperialism, etc.  Therefore, because it is not a "group" as such,
there isn't a "group identity".   I've also noticed that many of these
lists,including WSN have perhaps 10% of the number of messages posted than
was the case 5 years ago. All of this explains some of why there has not
been much discussion.

However, I have not spoken to your main question. As to the political point
of why there has been little discussion, I suspect that

1) there will be some discussion.

 And 2) many of the members on this list are simply uncomfortable with the
question of "What would be a just solution for the Palestinian and Jewish
people?"  I don't support theological states. (I actually don't support any
capitalist states and believe (like Marx)  that only the elimination of
capitalism and nations will allow the world to move to the next stage of
human history.) But specifically, opposition to theological states that
means that "Israel" as it is currently constituted, should cease to be a
state with a state religion and should undo its discrimination/oppression
against the Arab people. But I don't think that the Jews living there should
all be evicted. I also understand that most Arab people don't believe that
either, although the U.S. media paints the false picture that every Arab
person wants to see every Jew evicted or murdered.

Many people in the U.S., including intellectuals, cannot envision a world
where the working class runs society and treats each other with respect.
Therefore, these intellectuals retreat into various kinds of nationalisms.
They only see the choice as Israel functioning the way it does (although
those intellectuals probably wish it weren't so brutal.) Or they see the
choice as some sort of racist stereotype of Arab people slaughtering and
evicting Jews. So they maintain "critical support" for Israel.

I realize that I am being VERY PRESUMPTUOUS in the above writing and that
there are many, many, many people in the U.S. who do not have the views I
described above. To them I apologize. But there are plenty who do.  And the
media is very powerful.  Here in Chicago, there was an incident where
(possibly) two Palestinian-American youth MAY have shot marbles with a
slingshot at Jews. And there was a shooting at a rabbi where nobody was
hurt--the police currently have NO suspects in the shootings. But the media
continues to link both stories, spreading the illusion that Arabs are now
shooting at Jews in the U.S.

That's some of the reasons for the lack of response. Hopefully, there will
be some on WSN and other lists who will take up this question. Figuring out
the truth is always uncomfortable. If it is comfortable, it probably won't
accomplish much.


Alan Spector




----- Original Message -----
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Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2000 11:21 AM
Subject: Re: The US Left & Palestine


> Greetings,
>
> Some very interesting analysis Alan, but I should have been more specific.
I
> was especially thinking about the WSN (World Systems Network) who to this
day
> have not had one single discussion about Palestine over the past two weeks
of
> events.  If this same kind of action had happened in Eastern Europe or
Latin
> America we would have seen a very large number of wsn members writing on
the
> issue, rightfully so.  In my two years on this LISTSERV it seems to me
that
> anything occurring in the Middle East is of little concern to many on this
> network.  The question is why?
>
> As I have said in my past email I don't think it is due to issues of
> ignorance or obsolescence, whatever that may mean.  It is more substantial
> than that.  Nor is it explained by Arafat's nationalist politics, and that
> the left is uncomfortable with nationalist politics, as Alan claimed.
> Nationalist politics has never been a reason not to discuss issues on wsn.
> Nor is it due to whether you come from a revolutionary or a liberal left.
> Indeed, it is been the more anti-imperialist segment of the left that has
> been alarmingly quiet on the issue, at least on wsn.  Liberals generally
have
> been speaking about the issue on a regular basis.  Of course, it has been
> extremely racist and anti Arab in its presentation of the issue, but
> nonetheless liberals do discuss it.  The "revolutionary" left, especially
> those on the wsn, however, refuse to say a word about it.  Why?  Why is
wsn
> members so unwilling to talk about Palestine?
>
> I'm not questioning your politics or whether you are opposed to the
Zionist
> colonization of Palestine.  In the case of Alan it is obvious that he is
> sincere about his opposition.  My question is of a more general nature.
The
> consistency of this silence is too predictable to be explained by any
> political commitments.  It is systematic to the structure of our
interactions
> to be discussed in such ways.  It seems to be due to some latent and
hidden
> factors of this group that needs to be analyzed critically.
>
> Thanks to those who have replied to all or to me personally.  If you can
it
> would be more constructive, I think, to respond to all than to me
personally.
>  But if you feel more comfortable only responding to me I will be glad to
> hear your response.
>
> Best Wishes,
> Khaldoun Samman
>