America Bashing 101
Lee Harris, writing for the Wall Street Journal last January, penned a fascinating analysis of the roots of America bashing. It is worthwhile to read the whole essay, but I will attempt to nutshell it here.
Marxist theory holds that capitalism will implode as the working class, in the face of mounting poverty, revolt to overthrow the capitalist system that exploits them.
Unfortunately for the Marxists, the West in general and America in particular show this world view to be wrong. The working class in America is NOT facing mounting poverty, and in fact the working class generally has seen their wealth increase over time under capitalism. No poverty, no discontent, no revolution, no socialism.
Then, in the late 1950s, a Marxist economist hit on a new paradigm. It isn't the American working class that is facing poverty and sinking into despair. It is third world workers! Under this theory, capitalism actually created poverty in third world countries. This theory was further developed and crystalized in 1974, and taken up by the socialist intellectuals: America became rich by making others poor. The west (both capitalists and workers) are now the oppressors, and the entire third world is their victim. Marxism and socialism were once again relevent, since an oppressed class had been "found." This is why today's socialists spend so much time complaining about America and trying to dismantle its systems.
The glaring deficiency in this world view was in imbalance of power. The relative might of capitalistic countries to third world countries made a Socialist revolution impossible. Enter September 11th.
The attacks of that day were seen as first blow by the oppressed againts the oppressors. Socialism was back on track, and revolution was possible. This explains the glee of so many on the far left (one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter). Harris goes on to conclude that any "revolution" based on the model of 9/11 is doomed to fail because it unifies the classes in America rather than driving them apart, as is required for Marxist revolution.
Lee Harris, writing for the Wall Street Journal last January, penned a fascinating analysis of the roots of America bashing. It is worthwhile to read the whole essay, but I will attempt to nutshell it here.
Marxist theory holds that capitalism will implode as the working class, in the face of mounting poverty, revolt to overthrow the capitalist system that exploits them.
Unfortunately for the Marxists, the West in general and America in particular show this world view to be wrong. The working class in America is NOT facing mounting poverty, and in fact the working class generally has seen their wealth increase over time under capitalism. No poverty, no discontent, no revolution, no socialism.
Then, in the late 1950s, a Marxist economist hit on a new paradigm. It isn't the American working class that is facing poverty and sinking into despair. It is third world workers! Under this theory, capitalism actually created poverty in third world countries. This theory was further developed and crystalized in 1974, and taken up by the socialist intellectuals: America became rich by making others poor. The west (both capitalists and workers) are now the oppressors, and the entire third world is their victim. Marxism and socialism were once again relevent, since an oppressed class had been "found." This is why today's socialists spend so much time complaining about America and trying to dismantle its systems.
The glaring deficiency in this world view was in imbalance of power. The relative might of capitalistic countries to third world countries made a Socialist revolution impossible. Enter September 11th.
The attacks of that day were seen as first blow by the oppressed againts the oppressors. Socialism was back on track, and revolution was possible. This explains the glee of so many on the far left (one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter). Harris goes on to conclude that any "revolution" based on the model of 9/11 is doomed to fail because it unifies the classes in America rather than driving them apart, as is required for Marxist revolution.
posted by Kurt at
3:14 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home