Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- [Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] [Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: SolidNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2001 7:17 PM Subject: CP USA, Globalization and the class struggle http://www.solidnet.org News, documents and calls for action from communist and workers' parties. The items are the responsibility of the authors. Join the mailing list: info/subscribe/unsubscribe mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] . ====================================================================================== ====================== CP USA, Globalization and the class struggle --------------------------------------------------- From: RedNet, Tue, 04 Sep 2001 http://www.cpusa.org , mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ====================================================================================== ========================== Opinions Globalization and the class struggle By Scott Marshall The following is abridged from a report given to the National Board of the CPUSA. A second section will follow next week. The full report is available online at www.cpusa.org The fight against capitalist globalization is central to the class struggle today. It touches and affects virtually every economic, social and political struggle of the working class and oppressed people the world over. More and more, our actions and plans must make the linkage clear and fight for the global integration of struggles to match the global economic integration now dominated by monopoly capital. Some have called it globalizing peace, justice and equality. We must also be clear on an overall strategic concept of defeating the ultra right. Building the broadest possible coalitions and alliances to rebuff the ultra right and fighting capitalist globalization are not two different or separate tracks of struggle. They are two totally intertwined sides of the same struggle. The huge concentration of wealth and power in this new global level of monopoly capital is the material base for more global corporate control. It is the basis for fresh attacks on democracy and a more vicious ultra right. The struggle against the effects of capitalist globalization is increasingly a political fight for democracy to break the ultra right's haughty power. We understand that no dynamic process of monopoly capitalism or imperialism takes place outside the context of the class struggle. We know that they - the rulers, the owners and the flunkies of monopoly capital - don't hold all the cards. They can be curbed and even defeated. It's the interests of the vast majority of people on our planet versus a tiny handful. Why is it important to restate this basic idea? Because, based on appearances, it is too easy to conclude that you can't fight City Hall. The death of Carlo Giuliani in Genoa has already sent a shudder through the anti-globalization movement, as did the hundreds of protesters sent to the hospital in those demonstrations. Many parts of the coalition are examining their participation. Some are tempted to conclude that the forces arrayed against them are just too strong. But most are even more determined to fight back. It is important to remind ourselves that Seattle was a victory. Quebec was a victory. Genoa was a victory. The capitalist globalizers' use of force and the fact that they cannot hold a meeting on trade in any major city is a sign of weakness. The economic downturn (that even many big business economists now see as a potential global recession) will also impact the anti-globalization movement. In part, the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Free Trade Area of the Americas and other treaties are attempts, in the interests of capital, to regulate competition and smooth over potential trade, and even hot wars, between the big imperialist economies. Even this limited function is threatened by the economic downturn. This is how Michael Moore, the secretary general of the WTO, put it early in the year: "The world economy is looking vulnerable . The U.S. economy, motor for the world economy, is stuttering. A recession in America could export trouble to the rest of the world. An upsurge in protectionism could make things much worse." Moore in his speech is quite pessimistic about reaching an agreement in Qatar. He goes on to say that, absent an agreement, the world should brace for new rounds of protectionism, stagnation and declining profits. And as we all know, a global recession threatens even more political danger from the ultra right. Without going into a lot of facts and figures, it is pretty evident that the growing global economic slowdown aggravates most of the negatives of capitalist globalization: poverty and inequality increase, exploitation and oppression intensify, racism and national chauvinism and anti-immigrant hysteria intensify, degradation of the environment and destruction of rural and farming life speed up. On the other side of the class struggle there is just a hell of a lot of things going on in the fight against globalization. Pivotal is the Global Justice Week of Action in Washington, D.C., to protest the annual joint International Monetary Fund/World Bank meeting. A whole week of activity is being planned for Sept. 24 through Oct. 1. Mobilization committees for the actions have been established in several key cities. They have been endorsed by a wide range of organizations including the AFL-CIO, Jobs with Justice and the 50 Years is Enough coalition. They unite the broad spectrum of anti-globalization organizations. A central struggle against globalization is the fight to defeat "fast track" and the FTAA. This will be an important part of the Global Week of Action. We have a special responsibility in this fight against capitalist globalization in the belly of the imperialist beast. It is key that we place the question of capitalist globalization in relation to every other area of struggle, and in relation to every other coalition-building effort. Globalization is the dominant process of monopoly capitalism today, far beyond what has ever existed before. Thus the struggle to curb capitalist globalization is the central feature of the class struggle today. Scott Marshall is vice-chair of the CPUSA and chair of CPUSA Labor Commission. *End* ------------------------------------------------- This Discussion List is the follow-up for the old stopnato @listbot.com that has been shut down ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9spWA Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
