The Vegan Marxist
13th October 2010, 08:58
“Imperialism is the epoch of finance capital and of monopolies, which introduce everywhere the striving for domination, not for freedom. Whatever the political system, the result of these tendencies is everywhere reaction and an extreme intensification of antagonisms in this field. Particularly intensified become the yoke of national oppression and the striving for annexations, i.e., the violation of national independence (for annexation is nothing but the violation of the right of nations to self-determination).”
~Vladimir Lenin
As foreseen by Vladimir Lenin, imperialism is initially the highest stage of capitalism. [1] As Marxist-Leninists, we must fundamentally oppose all imperialist actions – in contradiction, support the independence of all nations from said imperialism. Though, as many have concerned themselves with, does this uphold contradictory lines of support to those, as Marxist-Leninists, that are seen as our enemy, as an enemy to the working class people?
Take for example, the Communist history in Afghanistan. This is not just a story of Afghani workers taking power, but is also a story of the almost complete withering away of religious institutions [2], a story of direct imperialist opposition, a story of women’s rights greater than seen today [3], so forth and so on. The overthrowing of Mohammed Daoud’s Afghani Republic in 1978, more commonly known as the Saur Revolution, was a sign of both independence against Western imperialism and sovereignty as a worker’s state. This, of course, was seen as a direct threat to US national security – in other words, a nation independent from any relations with the US was decreasing Western control over foreign markets, suppressing the accumulation of ‘super-profits’. So, under the direct funding by US intelligence, the Mujahideen waged a counterrevolution against the Soviet-led Afghani government, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). Leading to capitalist restoration in 1987 and the change of leadership to what is now known today as the Taliban. [4]
Today, the Taliban is no longer the official leaders of Afghanistan. Though, it is said that they still hold shadow governance over several territories of Southern Afghanistan. The only difference between how the Taliban gained power then and where they stand today is that the US is no longer seen as a “friend” to the Taliban, nor are they seen as such to the vast majority of Afghani people. [5] Which is where the Taliban have sought to gain an increase in support once again, as enacting themselves as the strongest militant army against Western imperialism today.
Of course, the Taliban is by far no friend to the working class people of Afghanistan. With their Islamic customs over women, homosexuals, and overall the working class people, they are still what they were when first coming into power – the enemy to Communism. Though, if we are to analyze the current death tolls of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, it is not the Taliban who have ultimately set a barrier over any chance of future Socialist control as once witnessed in history, but rather the US military instead. [6] The ultimate hindrance to working class control, right now, is Western imperialism. Without independence from said imperialism, capitalism will forever remain the predominant socio-economic structure of Afghanistan, let alone worldwide.
In contradiction, we, as Marxist-Leninists, are showing an indirect – and somewhat direct – support towards the Taliban. This, of course, allows many to ask themselves whether said support is of contradiction to their opposition against the same group of oppressors. In which, as simple as one could put it, they would be correct. Though, we are in need of attaining knowledge over other contradictions as well – the contradiction between the Taliban then & where they stand now.
We can no longer see them as US pawns of Western imperialism, because, in fact, they have come to be victims to said imperialism as well. Their independence from Western imperialism is not just the independence of themselves, but also the independence of an entire nation of both working class people and their internal oppressors. A barrier is still present between working class control and the control of the Bourgeois State, but it is a barrier that can be smashed internally by the might of Afghani workers under a vanguard army. No longer would capitalism be protected by foreign invaders. For the highest stage of capitalism would be defeated.
This is the initial goal as Marxist-Leninists today, the independence of all nations by showing global solidarity against imperialism. We cannot take down the pyramid scheme we call capitalism from the very bottom and expect the pyramid not to fall down on us as well. We must gradually show opposition, piece by piece, and destroy it from top to bottom – imperialism today being the leading threat to worldwide Communism.
Red Love & Salutes!
1. Lenin, Vladimir. Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. Petrograd, 1917. Marxists Internet Archive. 2005. Web. .
2. New York Times, 13 January 1980, p. A:14, and 12 April 1980, pp. 1, 6.
“Western and other foreign specialists here are skeptical of a theory widely circulated in the West that the Soviet Military intervention in Afghanistan was motivated largely by fear that a spread of Islamic fundamentalism through Central Asia might infect the adjacent Soviet Moslem peoples.
“Diplomats and journalists who have traveled recently in the Moslem republics of Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus report that religion has been eroded in the lives of the 40 million or so people of Moslem tradition. …
“The Soviet authorities seem to feel complete confidence now in the loyalty of their Moslem peoples, … Moscow’s confidence appears to be illustrated by reports from Afghanistan that many of the soldiers sent for the intervention are Tadzhiks or others of Moslem tradition.
“The atmosphere is even more secular in Central Asia than in Moslem areas of the Caucasus. The mosques, minarets and mausoleums of ancient glory are state museums now, tourist attractions. The small and humble mosques open for worship are sparsely attended by the elderly. Young people are seldom seen there.”
3. Stephen Gowans, “Women’s Rights in Afghanistan”, what’s left, August 9, 2010.
4. BJ Murphy, “‘Islamic fundamentalism is just like revolutionary communism..’ dare says Blair”, Red Ant Liberation Army News, September 14, 2010.
5. Jane Cutter, “As war enters tenth year, Afghan people rise against occupation”, PSL Web, October 8, 2010.
6. Ibid.
~Vladimir Lenin
As foreseen by Vladimir Lenin, imperialism is initially the highest stage of capitalism. [1] As Marxist-Leninists, we must fundamentally oppose all imperialist actions – in contradiction, support the independence of all nations from said imperialism. Though, as many have concerned themselves with, does this uphold contradictory lines of support to those, as Marxist-Leninists, that are seen as our enemy, as an enemy to the working class people?
Take for example, the Communist history in Afghanistan. This is not just a story of Afghani workers taking power, but is also a story of the almost complete withering away of religious institutions [2], a story of direct imperialist opposition, a story of women’s rights greater than seen today [3], so forth and so on. The overthrowing of Mohammed Daoud’s Afghani Republic in 1978, more commonly known as the Saur Revolution, was a sign of both independence against Western imperialism and sovereignty as a worker’s state. This, of course, was seen as a direct threat to US national security – in other words, a nation independent from any relations with the US was decreasing Western control over foreign markets, suppressing the accumulation of ‘super-profits’. So, under the direct funding by US intelligence, the Mujahideen waged a counterrevolution against the Soviet-led Afghani government, the People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA). Leading to capitalist restoration in 1987 and the change of leadership to what is now known today as the Taliban. [4]
Today, the Taliban is no longer the official leaders of Afghanistan. Though, it is said that they still hold shadow governance over several territories of Southern Afghanistan. The only difference between how the Taliban gained power then and where they stand today is that the US is no longer seen as a “friend” to the Taliban, nor are they seen as such to the vast majority of Afghani people. [5] Which is where the Taliban have sought to gain an increase in support once again, as enacting themselves as the strongest militant army against Western imperialism today.
Of course, the Taliban is by far no friend to the working class people of Afghanistan. With their Islamic customs over women, homosexuals, and overall the working class people, they are still what they were when first coming into power – the enemy to Communism. Though, if we are to analyze the current death tolls of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, it is not the Taliban who have ultimately set a barrier over any chance of future Socialist control as once witnessed in history, but rather the US military instead. [6] The ultimate hindrance to working class control, right now, is Western imperialism. Without independence from said imperialism, capitalism will forever remain the predominant socio-economic structure of Afghanistan, let alone worldwide.
In contradiction, we, as Marxist-Leninists, are showing an indirect – and somewhat direct – support towards the Taliban. This, of course, allows many to ask themselves whether said support is of contradiction to their opposition against the same group of oppressors. In which, as simple as one could put it, they would be correct. Though, we are in need of attaining knowledge over other contradictions as well – the contradiction between the Taliban then & where they stand now.
We can no longer see them as US pawns of Western imperialism, because, in fact, they have come to be victims to said imperialism as well. Their independence from Western imperialism is not just the independence of themselves, but also the independence of an entire nation of both working class people and their internal oppressors. A barrier is still present between working class control and the control of the Bourgeois State, but it is a barrier that can be smashed internally by the might of Afghani workers under a vanguard army. No longer would capitalism be protected by foreign invaders. For the highest stage of capitalism would be defeated.
This is the initial goal as Marxist-Leninists today, the independence of all nations by showing global solidarity against imperialism. We cannot take down the pyramid scheme we call capitalism from the very bottom and expect the pyramid not to fall down on us as well. We must gradually show opposition, piece by piece, and destroy it from top to bottom – imperialism today being the leading threat to worldwide Communism.
Red Love & Salutes!
1. Lenin, Vladimir. Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. Petrograd, 1917. Marxists Internet Archive. 2005. Web. .
2. New York Times, 13 January 1980, p. A:14, and 12 April 1980, pp. 1, 6.
“Western and other foreign specialists here are skeptical of a theory widely circulated in the West that the Soviet Military intervention in Afghanistan was motivated largely by fear that a spread of Islamic fundamentalism through Central Asia might infect the adjacent Soviet Moslem peoples.
“Diplomats and journalists who have traveled recently in the Moslem republics of Soviet Central Asia and the Caucasus report that religion has been eroded in the lives of the 40 million or so people of Moslem tradition. …
“The Soviet authorities seem to feel complete confidence now in the loyalty of their Moslem peoples, … Moscow’s confidence appears to be illustrated by reports from Afghanistan that many of the soldiers sent for the intervention are Tadzhiks or others of Moslem tradition.
“The atmosphere is even more secular in Central Asia than in Moslem areas of the Caucasus. The mosques, minarets and mausoleums of ancient glory are state museums now, tourist attractions. The small and humble mosques open for worship are sparsely attended by the elderly. Young people are seldom seen there.”
3. Stephen Gowans, “Women’s Rights in Afghanistan”, what’s left, August 9, 2010.
4. BJ Murphy, “‘Islamic fundamentalism is just like revolutionary communism..’ dare says Blair”, Red Ant Liberation Army News, September 14, 2010.
5. Jane Cutter, “As war enters tenth year, Afghan people rise against occupation”, PSL Web, October 8, 2010.
6. Ibid.