This is a better copy to a previous posting. The last one was not suitably formatted.
Washington uses "ethical foreign policy" as a strategy to undermine its opponents.
Using
this strategy it can under the ideological cover of ethics invade other territories.
It
is this ethical imperialism that gives Washington the pretext for attacking, bombing
and
invading Serbia and thereby engaging in a modern colonialism. Washington must resort to
this kind of ideological deception because it needs to conceal from the working class
it
real actions. In the absence of any such concealment there is always the danger of the
working class both within and without the US challenging its actions. The fear of the
working class underlines American imperialism's actions. Consequently secrecy and
deception is a necessity in its attempt to protect and enhance the conditions necessary
for the perpetuation of the accelerated accumulation of capital.
Ethical foreign policy is the means by which Washington acts out its imperialism. Under
this policy it can attack, invade and colonise other countries that it seeks to
exploit or
control for purposes of global strategic concerns. Today imperialist foreign policy
must
be hidden behind a web of deceit.
Washington and London are forever informing the public that there are "morally bad" and
good countries. The bad countries are Russia, China, Serbia, North Korea, Afghanistan,
Libya, Iraq etc. What is ignored is that there are other "morally wayward" countries
too,
However these countries are not on the black list because they serve Washington's
imperialist interests --countries such as Indonesia and Colombia. Indeed Washington
actively supports these countries both strategically and militarily.
The West mobilise public opinion against a particular "bad" country through its mass
media
which provides the popular basis for its active intervention. Such a mobilisation may
be
undertaken for many months. Consequently all views that don't fit in with the official
view are marginalized and even submerged in the mass media hysteria that is generated
by
the bourgeoisie. This is why we only here dissenting views after the event has taken
place, been completed and consolidated. Criticism post facto is not then a challenge
and
yet serves the ideological function of presenting the illusion that we live in a world
in
which freedom of expression exists. Currently it is being done in relation to Russia
over
Chechnya albeit in a modified form. However it is being done in a modified form because
the West is not so sure how they can fully exploit this war for their own gain.
However by
partially whipping up antagonism they are positioning themselves while menacing Russia
as
a way of both asserting influence and menacing it. It is also a means of exploiting
Chechnya as a means of mobilising antagonism against Russia over the long term -since
it
can take years to achieve this. It is also designed to obscure from the masses in the
West
the essence of the situation in the CIS. It is also a way of signalling to Russia what
they can do if Russia goes any further in its policy of consolidating or extending the
CIS.
This ethical strategy also ideologically reinforces Western capitalism by reinforcing
belief in Western society as a good society despite its shortcomings. By attacking
"morally depraved" societies it reinforces its own legitimacy. It also distracts the
masses from the inherent limitations of Western capitalism. It gives the Western
masses
something to let steam off about -it becomes a substitute for authentic radicalism
thereby precluding the emergence of revolutionary movements. It can also serve to
maintain
the working class in an inert state. It also has the added effect of presenting the
imperialist bourgeoisie as being a crusading force for justice. In this way it creates
a
cross class alliance led by the bourgeoisie. What more could the bourgeoisie ask for.
It creates too a culture that is ideologically overwhelming. The visceral feeling is
created that there is just no basis for a radically different alternative. Consequently
one does not even try to present an ideological challenge. The assumptions underlying
this
imperialist ideology become so pervasive that they become natural givens.
The real situation becomes invisible. Delusion is substituted for reality. This has
been
all the more effective because old traditional bourgeois ideology have been replaced by
this new one. Consciousness lags behind reality. Consequently it takes time for the
character of this new ideology to be consciously recognised. Instead the Quixotic
exercise
of fighting the old ideological giants is engaged in -the unawareness that substance
has
been metamorphosed into shadow. This in itself is another bourgeois ideology that
entails
lefties and even radical liberals engaging in a harmless Quixotic exercise.
This ideology of the imperialist ethic spreads out in all directions while deepening
its
grip on the Western masses so much so that it is metamorphosed into a culture of the
ethic. Consequently certain languages and conceptualisations become invisible dropping
out
of the frame. The culture creates the universal impression that western democracy is
the
ethical norm -the universal criterion as to what is just. This culture extends itself
into all places. This moralistic conception of global conditions serves the ideological
purpose of hiding in a web of deceit and lies the real nature of global conditions.
Consequently this ideology lulls the working class into accepting and tolerating
political
and economic developments that it would challenge if it had a clear vision of the
conditions -if it new the facts. This ideology is a screen behind which the bourgeoisie
can freely advance their class interests and the continued oppression of the working
class. Its oppressions assumes a hidden form. However it needs this ideological veil of
secrecy if it is to effectively serve its own class interests. Without this veil of
secrecy the working class would not let the capitalist class freely exploit it. It
would
challenge it.
As I said already to effect this uniform and universal ideology the capitalist class
frequently need to modify practical and institutional conditions in order to provide a
material support that can sustain this ideology. Under these conditions the device
used to
deceive the masses rendering them inert transcends the mere ideological level. The
ideology, so to speak, is transformed into a hegemonic form. This is a form that
includes
both the ideological and material conditions that sustain the inability of the masses
to
see what is going on. Examples of such phenomenal forms are schools and universities.
The bourgeoisie to effect this universal web of deceit requires a docile mass media
including the press, radio and television. These forms must be subordinated to the
interests of the bourgeoisie. Consequently they must play a decisive role in deceiving
the
working class. Their role is pivotal in creating a web of deceit that prevent the
masses
from comprehending what is really going on. If the masses were to comprehend the real
state of affairs they would become more awakened and thereby mobilise against
capitalism.
In fact a multitude of diverse institutions are employed to maintain this web of
deceit:
the print media, television, radio, cinema, video, universities, the state, schools,
literature etc. There is in existence a massively enormous ideological apparatus that
presses down on the working class to prevent it from shaking off this veil of secrecy
to
gain a grasp of the real fact and thereby oppose the system. Under these conditions the
working class is lulled into a state of inertia whereby it is unawakened as to what is
really going on. Consequently the working class lack even the critical tools whereby it
can an insight as to what is really going on. The working class is thereby
ideologically
disarmed. This renders the working class incapable of engaging in resistance against
the
system. It renders the working class passive.
At the same time the material conditions prevailing at a specific point in time
determine
the specific character of this web of deceit. Because of the changing objective
circumstances ideology does not remain static. Particular conditions require particular
ideological forms. Particular conditions too can render the working class more
vulnerable
to ideological deception. Economic and political conditions of a specific kind can
prompt
the working class into action that challenges the bourgeoisie. Other conditions can
render
the working class less responsive to challenging or even questioning the status quo.
Consequently the position is not a simple that can be reduced to the level of
ideological
deceit. Nonetheless the bourgeoisie need a permanent web of deceit to render the masses
acquiescent. Capitalist society is inherently a deceptive society. By its very
objective
nature its appearance contradicts its essence. Furthermore and linked into to this it
actively and systematically engages in the activity of lying. To survive it must lie.
If
it did not lie it would cease to exist. Consequently the lying culture created by
capitalist conditions encourages lying among the working class. The working class must
resist the culture of lies. Capitalism is sustained by the lie. Capitalism is
anti-truth.
The working class must struggle against the culture of the lie. It must fight against
the
lie. The more oppressed elements within the working class will tend to be more
dominated
by the lie. Consequently they will tend to be the less truthful layer within the
working
class. This being so they are the layer less responsive to the truth which makes them
more
difficult to argue with and win over to revolutionary communist politics.
Given that the lie rather than the truth is the norm seeking to advance the truth is a
very onerous task. It is very difficult to win workers to the truth in a culture of
lies
from which truth is absent -especially under conditions that don't render the need for
truth all that more urgent.
Now imperialist class interests are hidden behind the screen of ethical foreign policy.
Intervention in East Timor by the West in the form of Australian forces reinforces
this
illusion of the imperialist crusaders of natural justice. What is ignored is the
interests
that such intervention serve beyond the screen of a false morality.
This same type of ethical ideology is used to obstruct support for workers when they
engage in direct action either in the form of strike action or political rallies. These
actions are presented as morally wrong. Again action taken by the bourgeoisie against
workers engaging in direct action is hidden under a web of deceit. If the workers see
the
real situation they may awaken and challenge the actions of the bourgeoisie.
Hostage takers such as the Burmese Army of God are presented to the public as the
source
of oppression and brutality against the masses. What is ignored is that this sorry
organisation has its source in the Burmese oppressive state which has engaged in a much
more systematic savagery against the Burmese citizenry in a way that renders the Army
of
God look like a lamb. Yet public opinion is mobilised against these hostage takers
while
the savage acts of the Burmese state are continued beyond the margins of public
attention.
When it is politically opportune these guerrilla organisations can be brought in from
the
cold and rendered respectable. The treatment given to the Provos is such an example.
The
imperialist bourgeoisie can manipulate its mass media in such a way that "terrorists"
are
rendered respectable and its leaders presented as peaceniks when formerly their image
was
that of demonic figures. Imperialism manipulates and mobilises public opinion to suit
its
interests. The masses are viewed as a passive blob to be preserved in a state of
inertia
and that can be shaped this way or that by the institutions of the imperialist
bourgeoisie. Again imperialism must conceal its real intentions under a web of deceit
and
lies.
Warm regards
George Pennefather
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