> On Jun 26, 2026, at 01:50, RKOB via groups.io <[email protected]> > wrote: > > https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/origins-and-history-of-revolutionary-defeatism/
Thanks for posting this to marxmail. With over 100 references and five dozen pages, "Marxism and War" gives excellent background on the Marxist tradition to war. I particularly liked the first sections on the emergence of revolutionary defeatism in the 19th century by Marx, Engels, the elder Liebknecht, and others who derived the concept from the first principles of internationalism and class struggle. I have a number of comments that I'll leave to a future note. Here I'll focus on what I think is missing: The current situation presents problems that need answers: What is the socialist position on the re-arming of Germany, Japan, and other imperialist powers? German and Japanese imperialism can no longer rely on the US to police the world for global capitalism. A recent antiwar conference in London (https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/10449) addressed the militarization of Europe. "The London Anti-War Conference was preceded by a growing number of national and international protests against militarisation. In Germany, school pupils have seized the initiative and staged so far three school strikes in protest against the reintroduction of compulsory military service." What is our position today on conscription? In addition to redirecting billions to war industries, the imperial countries will need more soldiers, sailors, and aviators. In this regard, the doctrine of revolutionary defeatism applies not just to periods of active war, but to everyday life in the USA and increasingly Europe: Preparations for war have become the norm rather than the exception. I think that the US should reinstate a military draft. Working people in the United States lost what little control we had over US wars when the US ended military conscription in 1973. The professional US military accomplished what was intended: It enables foreign forever wars. In the early 70s, elite military opinion was that the US would not have lost in Vietnam if the war could last long enough despite popular opposition. This thesis was tested in Afghanistan and the second US invasion of Iraq. Ten years was almost long enough in Iraq, until ISIS emerged. Twenty years was not enough in Afghanistan. Neither would have lasted so long if our children were required for those wars. What is missing from the "Marxism and War" document is the Proletarian Military Policy, which belongs in any treatment on revolutionary defeatism. It is also hugely controversial and deserves an airing during the time of imperialist realignment. Mark -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#42206): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/42206 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/119987077/21656 -=-=- 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. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
