Ukraine: Fascism and Realpolitik

[cyu]

http://www.counterpunch.org/2014/01/...th-of-fascism/

For its part, the United States has strongly come down on the side of the opposition, regardless of its political character. as the character of the opposition has become apparent in recent days, the US and Western ruling class and its media machine have done little to condemn the fascist upsurge. Instead, their representatives have met with representatives of Right Sector and deemed them to be “no threat.”

In an attempt to pry Ukraine out of the Russian sphere of influence, the US-EU-NATO alliance has, not for the first time, allied itself with fascists. Of course, for decades, millions in Latin America were disappeared or murdered by fascist paramilitary forces armed and supported by the United States.

There is a disturbing pattern here that has never been lost on keen political observers: the United States always makes common cause with right wing extremists and fascists for geopolitical gain.

beyond Europe, there are a number of quasi-fascist political formations which are, in one way or another, supported by the United States. The right wing coups that overthrew the governments of Paraguay and Honduras were tacitly and/or overtly supported by Washington in their seemingly endless quest to suppress the Left in Latin America.

[tuwix]

I think there is no such simple translation of that what happens in Ukraine to all known politics and especially to Latin American.

Ukrainian rebellion is composed of many forces. Some of them are even anarchist and refer to direct democracy. Decisions on Maidan frequently are taken by votes of all gathered. And there are fascist too indeed having roots in cooperation with Hitler during WWII. But nobody knows what will happen. There even fights between different groups to occupy one ministry. Even we, Russians and Poles, who are culturally closest to Ukraine, really don't know what will happen there.

[Psycho P and the Freight Train]

Maybe it's just my imagination but it seems that there's been a disturbing surge of right wing activity in Europe lately. That being said, I'd say these riots are made up of a lot of different groups with conflicting opinions, it's not so binary.

[cyu]

As in Egypt, you don't just have pro-MB forces and pro-Sisi forces involved. Lots of groups want to determine their own destiny - don't even get me started on the mess that is Syria.

However, I would say that there is a powerful faction within the US foreign policy establishment that is willing to do whatever it takes to isolate Russia (especially after their Snowden decision indicated their willingness to challenge American power) and pull Ukraine into NATO, even if it means military funding for fascists. What would be interesting is if Israel has enough pull within the American administration to prevent that from happening.

[Sasha]

i also posted this article in the other thread but i think its even more relevant here (note, i am in no way a supporter of the AWU, i think their anarchism is pretty confused and i disagree with a lot of their stated positions, but they are the most "left" voice in the opposition camp that regularly makes statements on the situation English language that i so far found)

Euromaidan: “We Support Your Struggle But Not Your Fascists” 2nd Interview with a Ukrainian Anarchist

January 30, 2014 - Revolution News, Ukraine - Tagged: anarchism, Anti-Government, Bandera, EU, Euromaidan, human rights, Klitschko, Kyiv, neo-nazi, protests, revolution news, Russia, Ukraine, union



This interview with a comrade from the Autonomous Workers’ Union in Kiev was done on January 28, 2014. It sheds some light on the events around the EuroMaidan: the array of reasons behind the protests, their focus on the hated president, the differences to the “orange revolution”, the role of the right, the weakness of social struggles and possible scenarios.



Q: Looking at the pictures from Kiev (for instance, here) it seems that all kinds of people are at the barricades. In your opinion, what brings them together? What do the people at the barricades and all the supporters discuss? Merely the practical issues of the fight against the cops? Or are there assemblies, or other forms of “organized” debates, at the barricades or elsewhere?
A: The main motive for the protests right now is extreme unpopularity of the president. Of course, the actual reasons are economic crisis, social inequality, corruption, decay of social services, poverty, unemployment – the usual set of grievances which make people go into the streets these days. This is not a leftist dogma; people do speak about all these issues. But nevertheless the force which made them stop grumbling at their kitchens and protest loudly is their feelings towards president Yanukovich. The demand of president’s resignation is the ultimate one; unfortunately, this is the most radical thing people can actually think about.
The second thing is the sheer hatred towards the police forces. But then again, protesters just don’t think there’s anything wrong with the fact that one of the leaders of the protests – Yuriy Lutsenko – himself used to be Minister of the Interior; during that time Berkut and other special police forces existed as usual, and Lutsenko himself had announced that he would disperse protesting crowds with tear gas. So, here, too, protest against police as such (it has extremely bad reputation among all social classes here) is channeled into relatively harmless direction.
The president, his government and police are main subjects of discussions, I guess. Protesters’ main task, as they see it, is to get rid of the Party of Regions, that’s all. A small fraction talks about shifting the balance of power in the constitution from president to parliament. But of course, the main topics are indeed the practical matters – tear gas, food, shields, Molotov cocktails, tactics of street battles, and endless rumors – about the imminent threat of introducing the state of emergency, about snipers and riot police (whether they are Russians or not, whether they intend to fight any longer etc.).
About the assemblies – no, I don’t know anything of the sort. The situation is too dynamic and unstable to do any such things, I guess; so, I don’t see any forms of direct democracy evolving at the barricades right now.
Q: It seems that there are a lot of attacks on or occupations of government buildings, but the “normal” life in the city goes on. Is that so? Are people working during the day and going to the barricades at night in Kiev? What other forms of protest play a role? I heard about university faculties being occupied? Is anything going on at work-places against the late or non-payment of wages, for instance?
A: Yes, that’s true. Only the central parts of Kiev are affected by the protests while in other areas business goes as usual, nothing is interrupted. There were several attempts to declare national political strike but they failed miserably: the opposition doesn’t have any instruments for this, no political organization has a nationwide network of workplace cells, and the people themselves are also simply not used to such thing as strike. The only force that could theoretically do this – the old bureaucratic Federation of Trade Unions of Ukraine – is neutral. The student union Direct Action is trying to organize students’ strike – so far they’ve partly managed to do this only in one university, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. So, yes, most people work or study, spending their free time at the barricades.
There’s an initiative group called Automaidan – car owners who use their vehicles for blocking the traffic, especially in the vicinity of important government sites or near the residences of people in power. One more form of protest employed here is the customers’ boycott of goods manufactured by capitalists who belong to the Party of Regions. It turned out to be relatively successful, at least according to some reports.
There’s been only one university occupation so far, and I’m not sure you can call it that, actually. Our comrades from Direct Action do try to occupy the whole campus and block all activities there but as far as I understand it is not physically occupied yet.
Protests at workplaces concerning wages etc. hasn’t been connected to the political protests so far. For example, workers of Kyivpastrans – the communal enterprise which controls urban transit – held their protests in December, some leftist organizations helped them, but they didn’t go so far as to declare an Italian strike and they didn’t join Maidan. Actually, the local government did their best to pay them all the arrears in the end of December to calm them down.
Q: One of the last huge mobilization in the Ukraine was the “orange revolution”. In comparison, what is different today? Does anyone refer to that “history”? How are the protesters talk about “democracy”? And what hopes are connected with a EU-membership?
A: First of all, the “orange revolution” was a highly personalized protest. People concentrated on a specific goal – to install their leader, Viktor Yuschenko, in the president’s seat. Yuschenko’s political structures controlled the crowd pretty tightly and organized everything very smoothly. Now the three leaders of the parliamentary opposition are not trusted by a majority of protesters. They represent Maidan at the negotiations with the President, but many people are not sure they have a mandate for that. For example, last Thursday they were booed by the crowd, and Maidan didn’t accept their conditions which had been negotiated with Yanukovych. Despite all their anger, the politicians had to obey the crowd; generally, people are much more radical than their “representatives”. The whole mobilization in November came as a surprise for them, and since then they couldn’t grasp the events and take a lead. This vacuum was momentarily filled by the far-right groups.
Another difference is that in 2004 the scope of issues discussed was much wider. The whole “revolution” was dedicated to presidential elections, but still, you could legitimately propose left agenda there, discuss social and economic issues. In that respect, that protest was much more heterodox than the current one; now you can only talk about the matters of bourgeois politics. Any attempt to put forward other issues puts you at risk of being labeled as a “provocateur”.
I wouldn’t say that people imagine many parallels between the events of 2004 and the current protests. First of all, during the last ten years there appeared a new generation of young people who had been schoolkids back then. And now they are an important part of the mobilization. Second of all, Viktor Yuschenko turned out to be a major disappointment for all participants of the “orange revolution”.
Protesters naturally say that they want a truly (bourgeois) democratic state, with the rule of law etc. They imagine that the only thing which separates them from this ideal is Viktor Yanukovych, And they are convinced that the EU membership is synonymous with democracy, also prosperity and all other good things. EU serves as a myth concentrating all their hopes; while Russia is a land of Mordor in this mythological view of the world.
Q: Right-wing parties and fascist groups play a role in the protests. How important are they actually? Do they get much support? How do other protesters relate to them?
A: Far right party Svoboda is the most organized of the three large political forces trying to control the protest. They are the only party which has real active cells in various regions, actual activist base. So, as the most organized and the most ideological of the three, they are gaining the most. Apart from Svoboda, there is an umbrella coalition of neo-nazi militant groups. It is called Right Sector. They were formed in the beginning of the protests, and by now they’ve succeeded to gain enormous prominence and conquer sympathies from apolitical and liberal people. They are mostly famous by their demonstrative militancy and aggression, and the public doesn’t see anything wrong with these cute young patriots. Lately, the same pattern repeats in other regions, where neo-nazi football hooligans turned out to be the main assault force fighting the police and pro-government thugs.
The fascist hegemony was indisputable until January 19th, when the protests were joined by lots of other people – random apolitical citizens, liberals and even the left. That happened because the agenda of the protests shifted to repealing the “dictatorship laws” passed on January 16. Since then they had to step back a bit but nevertheless it’s obvious that in the long run these protests will enormously benefit the far right, whoever wins. In the case of the victory of the opposition, they will surely get themselves the police forces, special services etc. If Yanukovych wins, this means that half of the country will become firm supporters of the far-right as supposedly the only patriotic radical force able to confront the dictator.
Meanwhile, most left activists also joined the protests after January 19 because those laws will severely damage them as well. They found their niche in infrastructural activities, such as vigils in emergency hospitals: they stay there in order to prevent police and thugs kidnap the wounded. Other area of left activity is the above mentioned attempt at igniting the political strike.
Q: From outside the protest seems to have a lot in common with the one in Istanbul last year (well, surely not the temperatures…). Do the protesters in Kiev and elsewhere in the Ukraine see a connection to the uprisings around the globe in the past few years?
A: There may be some parallels drawn indeed, but from the subjective point of view of Ukrainian protesters those other protests don’t exist. They see these events as a purely national struggle, trying to embed them into Ukrainian history, not into the global wave of protests.
Q: Last not least, you have been following the movement from its beginning, and I have read some of your statements. What is your hope for the protest, what positive outcome can you imagine? What is the worst outcome you can imagine? What kind of support do you expect from outside the Ukraine?
A: Like I said, there are two possible outcomes. One is the victory of Yanukovych, which will bring about a harsh authoritarian regime in the mould of Latin American dictatorships of 1970s. Still, it will be problematic to govern the country for Yanukovych because he will still be supported by half of population at best; dictatorships cannot survive in such conditions. One of the probable scenarios then can be emerging of a militant underground guerilla movement not unlike the IRA in Northern Ireland of 1980s and 1990s.
The other outcome will be eventual victory of the parliamentary opposition. This will result in a weak bourgeois democratic republic, politically unstable but retaining the basic freedoms – like Ukraine in 2005-2009. Only now the fascists will be much stronger both in the power lobbies and in the streets.
Now, there is also third scenario – maybe that would the worst one – it’s the full-fledged civil war between Western and Central Ukraine, including Kiev, on the one side, and South and East, on the other. Naturally this would be catastrophic because people will fight for nationalist chimeras on both sides. On the other hand, this still looks unlikely to me because Ukraine is such a large industrial country. The EU, Russia and other global powers are unlikely to allow a chaotic war zone in a country which has major gas and oil transit routes, 15 atomic reactors etc.
I guess in such conditions the best form of support from abroad would be efforts to make the Ukrainian government back off, but without showing solidarity with the far-right. My guess is that such messages – “we support your struggle but not your fascists” – would be optimal form of pressure from abroad.
Source

[PhoenixAsh]

Maybe it's just my imagination but it seems that there's been a disturbing surge of right wing activity in Europe lately. That being said, I'd say these riots are made up of a lot of different groups with conflicting opinions, it's not so binary.

No, that is not your imagination. Europe is enduring a deep economic crisis. A crisis in which there is no unified revolutionary left which manages to translate their sectarianism into something non political workers can get behind.

Without a strong united and clear revolutionary alternative...the working class is without focus and direction for awakening class consciousness and therefore prey to far right ideologies and easy solutions.

Basically the current crisis might very well be another step towards the next stage in the evolution of capitalism.

[PhoenixAsh]

What would be interesting is if Israel has enough pull within the American administration to prevent that from happening.

You mention this and it peaked my interest. Out of curiosity...

Are you basing yourself on something specific you read about how Israel is reacting to the situation in the Ukrain? Or do you mention Israel because of the connection with the Holocaust?


My opinion for now is that Israel really doesn't care whether or not fascists are funded in the Ukrain.

[cyu]

My opinion for now is that Israel really doesn't care whether or not fascists are funded in the Ukrain.

Why wouldn't they? There are certainly different types of fascists. Some types are not focused on Jewish people specifically, but when they are, I would imagine Israel would be concerned.

Edit: http://embassies.gov.il/kiev/NewsAnd...20Jan2014.aspx

[ckaihatsu]

Top US Diplomat Caught on Tape Using Tough Vernacular on the Phone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKN1wrjAEyU


MEPs have asked EU governments to prepare sanctions against members of the Ukrainian government.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SwwPpYyeS0


Nuland - No comment on private conversation about EU and Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cer03Tri4as


Democracy or Hypocrisy 'Nuland leaked comment proves US disdain'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR9QjFzvd6Y


Senior Russian official warns U.S. against interfering in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjb2gio9g04


Art of Meddling - US's Nulad visits Ukraine again, with 'regime change' aims

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYUZJ82wQRo


EU's Ashton demands more urgency from Ukraine politicians

qwoXBg2eHME

[ckaihatsu]

Ukraine - pro and anti‐government demonstrators clash in central Kyiv

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWZAY6FtuIo


Examining the diplomatic push and pull over Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SArw79vVfL8


Leaked phone call on Ukraine generates outrage toward U.S.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I64AuvmYN0w


US blames Russia for leaking telephone call about Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Z0JSE7wpBA


'F_k the EU' - State Dept on damage control

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvYuW4KuLi4


International Furor Over U.S. Ukraine Comments

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs73V2TVD9M


State Dept spokesperson grilled over 'F_k the EU tape'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWfBW1ExZmc

[WilliamGreen]

We better prepare, the shit is coming in this next decade.

[ckaihatsu]

CrossTalk - Radical Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7PjcOTF5A4

[ckaihatsu]

EU calls for new government, constitutional reform in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d11I6Opi-xE

[ckaihatsu]

EU says financial help is available for Ukraine if it reforms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5mcztZDvco

[ckaihatsu]

Russia's Lavrov warns West against interference in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_QE5a7m26k


Putin set to embrace closer ties between EU and Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ6zzgvnCNk


Ukraine - A Maidan government or nothing says opposition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_-1riXiIGk


Fears for the economic legacy in Ukraine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arlg0fLwv0E

[ckaihatsu]

Ukrainian protesters refuse to leave until demands are met

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ytbwlo85-8


Ukraine provisionally frees the last of protesters detained during unrest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhJf9lCFYxs

[ckaihatsu]

Protesters end Kyiv City Hall occupation under government amnesty deal

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voAJ21SGQO4


Protesters hand back Kiev's city hall to the authorities

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCsLfmCzSxQ

[keine_zukunft]

Do we have an idea of how many people who are on the left who are involved and how much of this is being instigated by this so-called fascist vanguard.

[Sasha]

AN INTERVIEW WITH MIRA, ANDREI, AND SASCHA OF ANTIFASCIST ACTION UKRAINE


A group of Defense Militia members at EuroMaidan. On the left one gives a Nazi salute.

Sascha, Andrei, and Mira are members of AntiFascist Union Ukraine, a group that monitors and fights fascism in Ukraine. We sat down to talk about the influence of fascism in EuroMaidan, this is what they told me:

Sascha: There are lots of Nationalists here, including Nazis. They came from all over Ukraine, and they make up about 30% of protesters.

Mira: The two biggest groups are Svoboda and Pravy Sektor (Right Sector). The defense forces aren’t 100% Pravy but a large percentage is.

S: Svoboda is more legal as a group, but they also have an illegal militant faction. Pravy Sektor is more illegal, but they want to usurp Svoboda.

M: There’s a lot of infighting between Pravy and Svoboda. They worked together during the violence but now everything is calm so there’s time to focus on each other. Pravy and Svoboda both take donations and they have lots of money. Recently Pravy has all these new uniforms, military fatigues.
One of the worst things is that Pravy has this official structure. They are coordinated. You need passes to go certain places. They have the power to give or not give people permission to be active. We’re trying to be active but we have to avoid Nazis, and I’m not going to ask a Nazi for permission!

S: A group of 100 anarchists tried to arrange their own self-defense group, different Anarchist groups came together for a meeting on the Maidan. While they were meeting a group of Nazis came in a larger group, they had axes and baseball bats and sticks, helmets, they said it was their territory. They called the Anarchists things like Jews, blacks, Communists. There weren’t even any Communists, that was just an insult. The Anarchists weren’t expecting this and they left. People with other political views can’t stay in certain places, they aren’t tolerated.

M: Early on a Stalinist tent was attacked by Nazis. One was sent to the hospital. Another student spoke out against fascism and he was attacked.
Pravy Sektor got too much attention after the first violence, the media gave them popularity and they started to think they’re cool guys. Pravy existed before but now it’s growing and attracting a lot of new people.

S: After this Pravy will have more young guys. They have money to make propaganda, uniforms, they’re getting more attention and they look cool.



(r) A group of young men who recently joined the Defense Militia

M: The Ukraine is a patriarchal country so to be a strong man who’s fighting is a good aim.

Click Here to View A Recent Example of Pravy Sektor Propaganda

S: Nazi groups are also trying to mimic leftists, to try to ingratiate themselves. They use anarchist vocabulary, words like “autonomous.” One group of the ugliest Nazis is now doing this by calling themselves “Autonomous Resistance.” They’ve had lots of success with this tactic.
They attract some Anarchists who think they’re changing the Nazis, but really the Nazis are changing them.” They’re becoming more nationalistic, they have more more anti-feminist views, etc. Now is when Anarchists need to speak out and be louder.



Two symbols that could be found at EuroMaidan. The Celtic Cross (l) is a common symbol representing white supremacy. The Wolfsangel (r) was a symbol used by several divisions of the SS during World War II and now represents Neo-Nazism.

S: There’s a whole spectrum of Nationalists represented. They divide themselves into groups with their own symbols. They want support so they don’t use Nazi or fascist symbols so much. They use symbols that are recognizable to other fascistic people, but look innocuous to anyone else. For example there is a special eagle symbol. It’s drawn a certain way, it doesn’t look like anything unless you know the meaning.
No one has any idea how this could turn out, what form a new government could take. The fascist groups don’t have common aims, they know what they’re opposed to, and that they’re opposed to each other, but they don’t all want the same things. If Pravy has positions in a new government that would be really dangerous but that isn’t possible, they aren’t powerful enough.

M: People have these chants: “Glory Ukraine,” “Glory to Heroes,” “Death to Enemies.” But who are these heroes, who are these enemies? I don’t think they have any idea. “Ukraine Above All” is one, just like they used to chant in Germany.

Andrei: I’m from Germany, and from my perspective it’s like Ukraine has had this nationalism since the fall of the USSR. The nationalist sentiment on Maidan is there to divide people. The East of Ukraine favors Russia, the West is nationalist. People are quite divided, but if you look at the whole country everyone has the same social and economic problems. If people saw that and came together that would be the most dangerous for Svoboda, or Yanukovich, or any political party. Svoboda and Yanukovich favor the same neoliberal policies that make life worse for Ukrainians.

M: These nationalists are here not for rights but for nation and it’s practical for leaders to encourage this, because a focus on nationalism lets them do whatever they want. It’s mostly working class and poor people at EuroMaidan, and their attention needs to be diverted to real problems. Lots of people want to manipulate the people here.




A sign hangs in a EuroMaidan tent: “Ultra-Radical Pacifist”


Click Here to Read My Interview With A Member of the Defense Militia

source: http://www.timothyeastman.com/uncate...ction-ukraine/

[cyu]

Pravy and Svoboda both take donations and they have lots of money. Recently Pravy has all these new uniforms, military fatigues.

a group of Nazis came in a larger group, they had axes and baseball bats and sticks, helmets, they said it was their territory.

They have money to make propaganda, uniforms, they’re getting more attention and they look cool.

Makes me wonder where this "material support of terrorism" comes from.