On Tue, 6 Jan 1998, Richard K. Moore wrote:
> The belief that marxism is THE alternative to capitalism is probably one of
> the strongest factors keeping capitalism in power.
Marxism is a historically variable set of theoretical and practical
orientations to the world. Presently Marxism is deeply infected with
ideological distortion (many of which Richard repeats in his numerous
posts). Marxism is not the only socialist theory of social transformation,
and Marxism is not *one* socialist theory anyway. Whose Marxism? Where? At
what time? And in any case Marxism is not a universal blueprint for a
social system; this is not possible given Marxism's basic materialist and
relativist foundation. So the point that it is held up as an alternative
to capitalism is irrelevant, since it isn't true. Moreover, the form of
argument presented in Richard's post is nonsensical. Socialism is the
alternative to capitalism, more than this Marx never said. History is
emergent, shaped by humans in various sorts of practices. Historical
materialism (that is not Marxism, which is vague at this point, but
Marxianism, if you will) is the the most powerful theoretical and
practical system for understanding and explaining our present situation,
imperative to making global revolutionary change. The change comes in
practice, by people on the ground, organized in a flexible global
counterhegemonic movement.
It is absurd to suggest that Marxism is what keeps capitalists in power.
And it is ironic! Since it is the left anticommunism that Richard Moore
shares that has actually played an historical role in keeping from the
world proletariat the science of their class.
Andy