Marxist-Leninist Philosophy and Imperialism

Is US Imperialism heading towards a new world war?

By Daniel Paquet

“Since the masses represent the determining force of economic and political development, they make a sizable contribution to the advancement of culture-science and art.  These arose and developed on the basis of people’s labour activities and, at the initial stages, formed a component part of them.  By transforming reality and by creating new material goods that do not exist in a natural form, the masses developed t heir consciousness, mental abilities and capacity to create spiritual values, which are a materialized  generalization of people’s transforming activities.  Later on, when manual labour separated from intellectual work, spiritual activity became a monopoly of special social groups-classes.  Even then, the role of the masses in the development of culture did not diminish, for the latter has its roots deep among ideas, feelings and strivings cherished by the masses. Maxim Gorky wrote that the people constitute not only the force that creates material wealth, but also the only eternal source of spiritual values.”[1]

“For centuries, Russia has been a resource-exporting country, an economic laggard and a touchy partner, driven by a European culture and a decidedly un-European body politic. (…)

Its one successful reform since 2000 has been to revamp and re-equip its armed forces. (…)

But the Russian population seems to accept falling incomes and general uncertainty as the price of what is leaders portray as national resurgence.  (…)

Arguably, Russia is the only major power that no longer hesitates to shatter longstanding relationships with others. (…)

Russia no longer sees itself as a power seeking to escape isolation imposed by the West for occupying Crimea and intervening in Ukraine.  Instead, it pursues the claim of a victorious power whose transgressions become irrelevant because winners don’t have to justify themselves. (…)

In short, the Kremlin has made its decisions:  Put the onerous domestic problems aside, play the power game, do not blink, and call everything the West says a bluff.  A victory, this thinking goes, will one day recoup all costs. (…)

Any regime presiding over a backward oil-dependent economy will not be able to modernize it by waging wars and poisoning every relationship it still has.  It may not happen soon, but someday in the future, Russia will have to take up the hard work of fixing both its economic base and its position among its peers.”[2]

It clearly means that if Russian authorities want to be part of the Imperialist gang, they have to follow the rule, which is first to follow the leadership of the strongest, which is to abide by US domination.

The policy of socialist Soviet Union was quite different of capitalist Russia in international matters.

At that time, it was clear to all that: “The natural tendency of major capitalist countries, the U.S., Britain, and France, therefore, leads to militarism, new wars, and the enslavement and systematic robbery of other countries.  Ultimately, only the abolition of imperialism in the U.S., Britain, and France – the overthrow of capitalism in these countries – will end their tendencies to aggression.  Important work remains to be done, however, even though favorable conditions for the assumption of power in any imperialist country may not yet exist:  Communists should focus on encouraging and leading the peace movement and other democratic forces.  The peace movement, Stalin writes, can play a very positive role in ‘preventing’ or ‘temporarily postponing’ a particular war, or in temporarily preserving a particular peace. (…)

The duty of Communists in the U.S., for example, entails advocacy of the right of nations to independent development free from U.S. imperialism, to include the explicit right of Cuba and other countries to become and remain socialist, free from any U.S. invasion, blockade, or other interference.”[3]

Meanwhile, these days, world peace is compromise as would say Baron Clausewitz.

“In another apparently orchestrated message to the US, Chinese and Russian military officials held a joint briefing on their opposition to Washington’s plans to deploy  an anti-ballistic missile system in South Korea. (…)

Cai Jun, a general in the People’s Liberation Army, said Russia and China would hold a second set of missile defence joint maneuvers next year, following a first round in Moscow in May.  The drills underline how opposition to the US has driven Russia and China closer together on military matters.” [4]

 

Archives: La Vie Réelle,  laviereelle.blogspot.com  

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[1] Sheptulin, A. P., Marxist-Leninist Philosophy, Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1978, pages 486-487

[2] Trudolyubov, Maxim, A Russia-U.S. alliance sinks, The New York Times International Edition, Thursday, October 13, 2016, page 16

[3] Connolly, James, Stalin on Socialist Construction and the Transition to Communism :  Against Revisionism & For Building the New Society, Real Existing Socialism : http//realexistingsocialism.blogspot.com Mt. Vernon, U.S.A., August 2009, page11

[4] Clover, Charles, South China Sea expert floats idea of Beijing air defence zone, Financial Times, Thursday 13 October 2016, page 5