Okey, I don't have time but I will respond!
Ricardo wrote:
>Mine,
>Am only trying to argue that one cannot take on such a huge moral
>burden as "liberation of third world from western oppression", or
>from capitalism, without examining one's social position within the
>West.
Who argued for the liberation of the third world ONLY? The Marxist
position is that one can not be liberated without the entire world being
liberated. This is a true "internationalist" position, not a rhetorical
third worldism. In so far as one part of the world benefits at the
expense of others and a large OBSERVABLE gap exists, it is incorrect to
imply that there is no problem with what is going.I am trying to identify
the problem in the first place. The problem is that the world system is
charecterized by multiple hierarchies with each staying at the top of
hierarchy by extracting resources from the others. US, as the global
hegemon, teaches Asians how to become capitalists so that Asian ruling
classes can exploit their own working classes and labor in the region.
We are not living in the WEST, as you claim we are. We are living in a
world system charecterized by systemic inequalities. Your reluctance to
see these inequalities prevents you from even taking aN hypothetical
attitude to your own ruling classes.
Remeber Marx's discussion of primitive accumulation. In that specific
historical chapter of CAPITAL, Marx argues that the development of
capitalism was possible by a forceful of "expropriation" of population
from the land and formation of "free" workers thrown into cities as
"rightless" proleterians. Coercion, not free will, was internal to
capitalism to establish itself. What Marx identified hundred
years ago has been taking place at the world system level as each country
becomes capitalist. They go through the same sucking realities of British
capitalism. Marx talked about how the factory conditions were resembling
"slave labor" in Britian (including child labor).Marx also talked about
how the development of British capitalism was contingent upon imperialism,
colonialism and slave labor initially. Whether you beleive it or not,
these things still continue. Are you gonna deny these REALITIES?. Are you
gonna deny that the hourly wage labor in Dominican Republic is $1.64? Are
you gonna deny that Nike capitalists are beating Vietnamese women? Are you
gonna deny that Taliban fundamentalists stone women to death with the
tanks barrowed from the West? Are you gonna deny that the US sells guns to
Turkey (and its ruling classes)for killing Kurdish people, as well as its
own Turkish progressives?
>There's a real moral dilemma when a person living in it up in
>the West demands that the TW refrain from western
>There's a real moral dilemma when a person living in it up in
>the West demands that the TW refrain from western
>consumerism/technologies, or when a TW immigrant who is really
>westernized though still pretends to be from the TW,
>receives a hundred thousand or more salary, collects
>large research grants, has a lot of time off from teaching, as well
>as many opportunities for travel and lecturing around the world - like
>going
>to Vienna, the old capital of the Austro-Hungarian empire,
>criticizing the West,
1. This is indeed WRONG and politically problematic. Earning a western
salary should not prevent you from criticizing capitalism. According to
your logic, then, Marx should have never got his law degree at University
of Berlin, or, Engels should have never worked as a clerk in export
business and written articles for press. So what is the point with
this political correctness for my sake? All of us are trapped in this big
dilemma of trying to criticize capitalism and securing a position in the
intellectual market place (unfortunately). You always bring this issue of
foreigners' salary and third worldism card. Why? Many american (and
western) leftist intellectuals also criticize the west and american
militarism. I am really pissed when somebody "orientalizes" my identity
(where are you Said?) to imply that I don't have the right to criticize
what is unjust since I am so and so. Why is this "salary" issue a moral
dilemma for us ONLY, WHILE IT IS ALSO A MORAL DILEMMA FOR YOU? Why do you
persistenly create artifical distinctions for foreigners? From what I see,
you are making vulgar culturalism here.
2. btw, I don't even own a salary.I am a foreign phd student trying to
survive here.
>or pretending to speak for the "peasant class"
>or believing that their "radical" writing is a form of political
>engagement with "popular struggle".
Who is saying this? Give example..
>Be honest with yourself (and I
>don't me you personally, Mine, nor anyone here: you are carrying an
>argument with other cultural elites. Nothing wrong with that.
I am NOT a cultural elite. Evidently, you are, not me. I rejected the
the dominant culture (US) and my own culture many moons ago.
I am a true cosmopolitan, which is more than what you are.. You don't know
my political history so let's stop here!
Mine Doyran
Phd student
Political Science
SUNY/Albany
