It is interesting how so many on the left, even those who consider themselves to be Trotskyists, waltz right up to the issue of socialism and revolutions like the Arab Spring, and then they waltz right back again. I'm not saying that Gopal considers himself to be a Trotskyist, but what he's saying is a perfect example. Also, involved in this dance is the issue of which *class* holds state power and how to get it. Regarding Syria: Gopal mentions the issue of armed struggle, but what he ignores is the fact that the soldiers in Syria started to revolt. That was huge, but what didn't happen was a move to integrate the soldiers into the revolution itself. There were the Local Coordinating Committees (LCC's), which were in effect revolutionary councils, but except for in a few scattered instances there was not a move to get the soldiers to send their representatives into the LCC's. So, when the rank and file soldiers revolted, a whole layer of Assadist officers went over with them. These were officers not only at the lowest levels but up to mid level also. This ensured that the soldiers did not come under the control of the more radical forces of the revolution.
Then there is one last issue: A direct appeal to workers in surrounding countries, especially Turkey. In other words, internationalism in action not just words. So, yes, the theory of permanent revolution is real and bears applying to today, nut just to be kept on the top shelf of a six foot high bookshelf to be dusted off when we like to discuss some dry, dusty bit of historical trivia. Here is a more in depth view of how it applies to Syria. Among other things, it draws on some reports of how the LCC's tended to function as actual workers' councils. https://oaklandsocialist.com/2018/04/26/theory-of-permanent-or-uninterrupted-revolution-and-syria/ John Reimann -- *“Science and socialism go hand-in-hand.” *Felicity Dowling Check out:https:http://oaklandsocialist.com also on Facebook -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#3886): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/3886 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/78477155/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
