Proposed motion on imperialism
This policy motion was originally drafted for discussion at the founding conference of Left Unity, but given the agenda that has been decided for that conference, is more likely suitable for a subsequent policy conference scheduled for next spring.
It contains a comprehensive policy framework that would guide the party to a consistent opposition to imperialist oppression around the globe, and thereby enable our party to play an important role in promoting genuine socialist internationalism. Obviously it needs the endorsement of 10 members of LU to be able to be presented, and I am inviting those who wish to endorse it to email me at donovanianNOSPAM@aol.com (
Friendly amendments, that strengthen the motion, will be considered on merit and possibly incorporated – other amendments should obviously go through the formal amendment procedure.
As socialists and communists we must defend the rights of all peoples. But we must never delegate this task to the rulers of the imperialist states, not even for one moment. So-called ‘humanitarian intervention’ is in many ways more pernicious than the openly jingoistic, racist ideologies of colonialism, which has been largely discredited, and often replaces them.
The ideology has changed somewhat, but the material reality has not. This newer ideology in turn is now becoming discredited, which is a progressive development that can, if socialists are principled and sharp in their interventions, mean more opportunities for working class internationalism to gain influence and support.It is still the case that invariably when the advanced countries claim they are intervening to protect some vulnerable minority (Kurds, Kosovar Albanians), or even entire peoples under threat from a brutal regime, as with Syria recently, the real aims are enslavement and more exploitation. Imperialist domination is never a lesser evil and the cynicism is often breathtaking. Western imperialist intervention in Kosova, for example, supposedly to help the victims of Serbian ‘ethnic cleansing’, happened concurrently with brazen political backing for US imperialism’s ally Israel, whose entire state is founded on ethnic cleansing of the native Arab population. This is still ongoing.When the imperialists claim to be ‘helping’ some subordinate, oppressed group within the underdeveloped world, for instance Kurds or Kosovars, we must never fall into the opposite error of becoming cheerleaders for their local oppressors on the grounds of a simplistic ‘anti-imperialism’. We must continue to defend the national rights of the oppressed.
But neither can we cheer for their so-called ‘liberation’ by imperialism – the massacre of Iraqi Arabs by sanctions and then terror bombing (partly justified as being on behalf of Kurdish rights) is just as much of a crime as the oppression of the Kurds themselves. And unlike the local oppressors, these ‘liberators’ are capable of inflicting such terror on a massive scale right across the globe. They are definitely the greater evil by far.Intimately linked to imperialist predatory activities in the underdeveloped countries is migration, often the result of wars and impoverishment. Those fleeing from imperialist-imposed neo-liberal economic disasters are often in not much better circumstances to those fleeing imperialism’s wars. We must defend migrants and refugees with just as much fervour as we oppose imperialism’s wars, opposing all restrictions on their freedom of movement and asylum. Only in that manner can we distinguish ourselves from those who oppose wars for nationalist, isolationist reasons, as with UKIP’s exploitation of anti-war sentiment over Syria while trying to link this with anti-immigration sentiment.
In summary, we as socialists must be the most consistent defenders of the oppressed and exploited world-wide, and the most consistent enemies of imperialism and the many ideological justifications for it. The aim being to bring to the fore the common class interests of the workers of the advanced countries with those of the countries victimised by imperialism; to undermine the influence of reactionary chauvinism on the workers of the imperialist countries; and to undercut the understandable but often ideologically misdirected mistrust of that chauvinist consciousness by workers from the countries that are the victims of the current world order.
Thus making our contribution to creating a genuinely world-wide, revolutionary working class movement in the 21st century,as the potential saviour of humanity from an otherwise grim future.
3 comments
3 responses to “Proposed motion on imperialism”
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If only world events were as simple to “take sides on” as this ! Your blanket denunciation of “humanitarian intervention” is actually moral bankruptcy hiding behind a crude “anti imperialist” ahistorical generalism. It is not necessary to have any illusions in the undoubted self interested motivations of the major powers to nevertheless also recognise that in some specific instances the intervention of undoubtedly “imperialist ” powers has had nevertheless desirable outcomes from a basic humanitarian perspective. Quite recent examples are;
1. The NATO interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo – the alternative was genocide.
2. The NATO intervention in Libya as the Gaddafi forces entered Bengazi. A victory for the dictatorship would have unleashed a genocidal terror – which would have put the actual eventual death toll to unseat the dictatorship in the shade, high in the hundreds of thousands as it undoubtedly was.
3. The current civil war in Syria. The legitimate, indigenous,(non Islamic extremist)popular forces fighting the murderous illegitimate Assad regime need weapons. Who cares who gives the weapons to them in a situation of 1000 people a week being massacred by the mercenaries and security forces of the Baathist fascists ?
The core problem with your simplistic proposal is that it doesn’t even try and define “Imperialism” – and sets it in no contemporary historical context . It just sets the term up as an ahistorical “evil”. Whereas in fact “Imperialism” is a complex , ever changing phenomenum, as much to do with economic domination as military action and direct military domination.
Left Unity will need a much more sophisticated, and humanitarian-based, analysis than this one to guide us in our approach to periodic humanitarian war-based crisis in the world. The ordinary person in the street will simply despise us as amoral pontificating politicos if we seriously refuse to accept that in some dire circumstances masses of people facing imminent slaughter or starvation simply don’t care if the rescue comes from nations we know are a core part of the overall long term problem of “Imperialism”. Sometimes saving the lives in the short term is more important than political posturing.
We all know that the USA’s ruling class didn’t play a major role in the defeat of the Axis powers out of “humanitarian concern” – but as part of long existing Great Power, yes, “Imperialist” rivalries. Nevertheless I think we’re all bloody glad that Bourgeois Democratic Capitalism defeated the crazed genocidal barbarism of fascism though ! Even though what followed was the era of US economic and military global hegemony – and millions of deaths in proxy wars. The alternative was simply immeasurably WORSE !
No, the reality is that whoever in power brings up humanity to justify war is out to hoodwink you — the object of humanitarian interventionism is exactly to intensify, not to end, war by making the enemy out to be inhuman. In fact, the “alternative” to the NATO interventions wasn’t genocide, that is precisely what those interventions *precipitated* in the form of ethnic cleansing of Serbs by the Croats and the Bosnians backed by NATO. The Syrian regime is supported by the majority of the Syrian population.
You are absolutely right that imperialism is a complex phenomenon. Part of that complex in its contemporary form, however, is *precisely* the ideology of humanitarian interventionism, which serves the function of allowing the United States and, occasionally, some other countries to universally apply or suspend international norms as they see fit, while rendering the sovereignty of other countries a myth.
The idea that the ordinary person in the street will “despise” anti-interventionism is laughable given the overwhelming popular majority that formed spontaneously against intervention in Syria.
For my part I endorse the spirit of the motion wholeheartedly, particularly the statement that “So-called ‘humanitarian intervention’ is in many ways more pernicious than the openly jingoistic, racist ideologies of colonialism, which has been largely discredited, and often replaces them” — but I think ideally from a concrete political perspective it ought to be made more nuanced and less jargon-laden.
What a shameful response, Vincent. Sadly your all too common blanket disapproval of any “humanitarian intervention” no matter what – always involves a radical rewriting of history. Hence you completely falsify the real history of the Bosnian war- and the very real ongoing genocide faced by the Bosnian Muslims from Serb fascism . Similar rewritings are all too common over the Libyan Uprising. Dreamworld claims are made that if Gaddafi had seized Bengasi and defeated the (undoubtedly spontaneous nationwide popular) peoples uprising, that the reprisals of the regime “wouldn’t have totalled very many people”. Compete sophistry and lies of course .
Current public opinion is quite rightly opposed to pointless, ineffectual, cruise missile attacks on Syria which will not help the rebels one iota – but just underline the military hegemony of the USA and its satraps. However the British Public were overwhelmingly in favour of interventions in Bosnia, Kosovo and Libya- because they understood the lives imminently at risk of genocide. Too many on the Left simply sniffed from the comfort of their armchairs “Let em all die – US Imperialist intervention is the real enemy”. Complete moral bankruptcy.
Those hiding behind the blanket oversimplification of real world events through the crude unconditional “narrative” of blanket “anti-imperialism” are simply moral pygmies – sitting comfortably in their Western comfort and safety , spewing out shallow rhetoric, whilst real people are slaughtered by crazed dictators. Left Unity needs to move far beyond this kneejerk pseudo “Marxism” and embrace a case by case humanitarianism, if it is not to quickly discredit itself as real world events , like the current Syrian crisis, occur.