Questions for Marcyites (WWP/PSL)

[graymouser]

Some questions of perspective for the tradition coming out of Sam Marcy and the Workers World Party. These are out of an attempt to get a little better grasp on the politics. PSL and WWP folks are encouraged to apply.

1. Does your party currently consider itself Marxist-Leninist? I've seen a lot of Marcyites here label themselves as M-Ls.

2. Internally, do you read any Trotsky? Are there any works of Trotsky's considered relevant today by your party?

3. Do you still consider China to be socialist or a deformed workers' state? (I've seen the latter term once or twice in the Workers World newspaper.) What about Vietnam?

4. Is there a theoretical document that explains, or can you explain, the shift after the fall of the Eastern Bloc from Global Class War primarily dealing with the socialist countries to the idea of an anti-imperialist bloc?

Finally, separate questions.

For Workers World supporters: is WWP planning to release a book version of Leslie Feinberg's series "Lavender & Red"? If not, why not? It's really interesting history and deserves the attention.

For PSL supporters: when will your party be coming out with more of Socialism & Liberation magazine? The literary output of the PSL was really strong for a while, with the monthly magazine really getting in depth on a few issues. It seems like a loss for that not coming out any more. Is it mostly going to be more books like the Becker Palestine book?

[Chimurenga.]

1. Does your party currently consider itself Marxist-Leninist? I've seen a lot of Marcyites here label themselves as M-Ls.

Marxist-Leninist or Marxist, Leninist. Either way.


2. Internally, do you read any Trotsky? Are there any works of Trotsky's considered relevant today by your party?

Yes. The Revolution Betrayed and In Defense of Marxism are given as suggested readings in candidacy when it comes to the Soviet Union.



3. Do you still consider China to be socialist or a deformed workers' state? (I've seen the latter term once or twice in the Workers World newspaper.) What about Vietnam?

See my post here: http://www.revleft.com/vb/rich-peoples-republic-t154889/index.html?p=2120953#post2120953

Vietnam doesn't come up too much in discussion, however, I'm pretty sure that they would be viewed in the same way.


4. Is there a theoretical document that explains, or can you explain, the shift after the fall of the Eastern Bloc from Global Class War primarily dealing with the socialist countries to the idea of an anti-imperialist bloc?

As far as I know, no such document exists, no.


For PSL supporters: when will your party be coming out with more of Socialism & Liberation magazine? The literary output of the PSL was really strong for a while, with the monthly magazine really getting in depth on a few issues. It seems like a loss for that not coming out any more. Is it mostly going to be more books like the Becker Palestine book?

Socialism and Liberation magazine became quarterly (I guess) issued books. The last being China: Revolution and Counterrevolution, if I recall correctly. Richard Becker's book Palestine, Israel and the U.S. Empire has nothing to do with that series. Last I heard, there will be more books coming out in the future.

[graymouser]

Yes. The Revolution Betrayed and In Defense of Marxism are given as suggested readings in candidacy when it comes to the Soviet Union.
It's interesting that you'd wind up reading the two books that really encapsulate Trotsky's critique of the USSR - while they are keystones of his work, I don't see them as being all that close to your politics. Although Soviet defensism is something of a predecessor to Global Class War. What about The Permanent Revolution - do you ever discuss it? Is there a position on Trotsky's theory there?

[Chimurenga.]

What about The Permanent Revolution - do you ever discuss it? Is there a position on Trotsky's theory there?

Not that I'm aware of.

[Aurora]

Yes. The Revolution Betrayed and In Defense of Marxism are given as suggested readings in candidacy when it comes to the Soviet Union.
Does anyone actualy read them or are they just a throwback to a bygone era?

[Chimurenga.]

Does anyone actualy read them or are they just a throwback to a bygone era?

We actually read them.

[Mather]

Why did the PSL split from the WWP?

The two parties have a near similiar (from what I can tell) ideological line and politics.

[bezdomni]

Why did the PSL split from the WWP?

The two parties have a near similiar (from what I can tell) ideological line and politics.

Obviously because they are Trotskyites and that is what they do. ;)

Seriously, neither party has ever explained why the split happened.

My guess (as a complete outsider who has never really worked with WWP or PSL) is that ANSWER (e.g., question of united front) had something to do with it.

That is just a guess based on the timing of the split and formation of ANSWER around PSL.

[bezdomni]

It's interesting that you'd wind up reading the two books that really encapsulate Trotsky's critique of the USSR - while they are keystones of his work, I don't see them as being all that close to your politics.

It shouldn't be that surprising, Marcyites are basically "Trotskyists for Mao" (like "Jews for Jesus" they exist to piss off everyone involved). :P [Credit goes to TC for this reference.]

Joking aside, the Marcyites have a sophisticated critique of the USSR which is similar to Trotsky's but they (correctly) do not apply the same analysis to Maoist China because it was different material conditions.

Marcy's analysis was very unique, complex and non-trivial. While I think he perpetuates many of the mistakes made by Trotsky, he was overall a brilliant Marxist thinker who is dogmatically overlooked by pretty much everybody outside the WWP/PSL world.

An introduction to Marcy's work should be prefaced with the Dangerous Bend (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbaki_dangerous_bend_symbol) Symbol: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/Dangerous_bend_symbol.png

Recommended reading:
The Class Character of the USSR (http://www.workers.org/marcy/cd/samclass/index.htm)

China: The Struggle Within (http://www.workers.org/marcy/cd/samwith/index.htm)

Index of Sam Marcy's writing, Arranged by Subject (http://www.workers.org/marcy/cd/index1.htm)

[Sun at Eight]

It shouldn't be that surprising, Marcyites are basically "Trotskyists for Mao" (like "Jews for Jesus" they exist to piss off everyone involved). :P [Credit goes to TC for this reference.]


lol. The analogy doesn't quite work, but that's the funniest capsule summary of them I've ever read.