Thanks Ali for this reply. --- Message Received --- From: ALI KADRI <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001 07:16:44 -0800 (PST) Subject: [PEN-L:19574] Re: Re: Victory to Empire
"there is a possiblity of reform but it will be that that deepens the international division of labour- poor nations poorer and rich bought off working classes in the rich countries, all under the banner of nationalism. what will it take in between 2001 and 2010 to bring the rate of profit to levels higher than that of the nineties. the demand component in the third world is irrelevant so commodity relaization is out and war is in. " This is a real possiblity, in fact the only party in my country which is actually putting up a platform for actual reforms - is a right-wing one (One Nation) and their whole purpose is to strengthen Australia in isolation and over those of our niegbours. The process of buying off- working class struggle in the "west" has been a complex one and has now dissapated (the process of buying-off not the relative privilege) which is my major point. Workers in the "West" are now directly competing against poorer workers elsewhere - this is a new thing and I believe the eventual foundations for real solidarity. The comparison is striking between any group of workers that come into competition. One element fears them because they see it directly eroding their position (which in a sense it is designed to do), the elemental force to tap is the other response, that of mutual solidarity which at least supports the hope that all workers can and should enjoy a reasonable existence. But this is sci-fi under the conditions of world-wide worker defeat. The critical question is what is needed to regroup the working class on a world-wide basis. Now no-one pretends that the position of a worker in the Australia is similar to that of an Indonesian worker, yet in many regards the interests are similar and both share an interest in further democratising their own states and using those states to further satisfy their interests by somewhat similar means - better wages in socially useful production. In the broad sweep, the political platform for one group of workers is exactly the same for the other, though obviously differing in the details and nature of the struggle. But no such broad plaform has been articulated and until it is there is no way of knowing if the details will end up deepening the international division of labour or not. For my money it is a safe bet that a coherant international political platform, translated into specific national reforms would create room for real solidarity rather than diminish it, and real progress, politically, socially and economically. What you say about the crisis of realisation and why this has turned to war, is on the whole absolutely correct, in fact I agree with your dates - at least a decade of turmoil is ahead of us. The sticking point is probably my use of the word reform (meaning realisable goals). Of course the alternative is to keep on doing what we are doing - which is harmless. Ali I do not know if we have a real disagreement, and I cannot talk for workers in developing economies, I can however say that the problems here with the state and production are not disconnected with the problems elsewhere. There is commanlity in the direction that things are taking which we collectively are not properly responding to, just getting to the position where by geniune proletarian reform movements do come into conflict over the division of international labour would be to my mind a step forward from the passive situation which exists today. Greg Schofield Perth Australia
