Dear Comrades,
Below is my synopsis of a document on "Russia: Key to the
International Situation". It will be presented to an International Conference
in Moscow this October. I am going myself to build support for International
Solidarity with Workers in Russia - ISWoR, though the document itself is my
own and not ISWoR’s position.
If anyone would like to make any comments or critique of my
synopsis I would be interested.
Yours in anticipation - Steve Myers.
ps - Below is also the actual invite to the Conference - for your information.
International Conference - Moscow - October 1999
Synopsis on:
RUSSIA: KEY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION
In the 1930’s, Trotsky first pointed to Germany, then France, then Spain, as
three consecutive ‘keys to the international situation’. This was because
each of these struggles could have turned around European, and in large part
the international class struggle in favour of workers, for socialism, and
against the coming inter-imperialist war.
Yes there are many differences with Russia’s situation today, but the
fundamental similarity is there. Many socialists feel demoralised about the
Russian working masses’ seeming paralysis. But it is wrong to follow too much
the subjective situation.
Some call Russia a semi-colony, some call it imperialist. The west wants it
to become the first and the Russian oligarchy and would-be bourgeoisie the
second. It is neither, but contains elements of both and is in transition -
but to what?.. For the present the working class are overwhelmed by the
failure of ‘communism’ - and see no alternative to capitalism.
As was demonstrated by the response to the Asian crisis, movements in
Russia’s economy are both dependent on and a potential threat to
international finance. Meanwhile, Marx’s analysis of the nature and crisis of
capitalism seems more accurate today than at any time past; of the organic
composition of capital; of over-production and under-consumption; of
accumulation of capital; the tendency for the rate of profit to fall ; etc.
Their crisis is not over. There are sound reasons for believing it will end
in a massive slump. We cannot predict the exact tempo of such a crisis; but
the moment Russian workers see capitalism clearly failing globally, this mass
educated working class, given a genuinely revolutionary workers’ leadership
and sufficient international solidarity, would embrace the collective memory
of Bolshevism as envisaged by Lenin and Trotsky - they will not accept a
neo-Stalinist solution.
But even before the chaos of world depression, imperialism seems to be
heading into a fight over the Caspian and central Asian oil and gas
resources, not just with Russia, but with China too. Imperialism today is not
unaware of its crisis and the danger of a crash. There are many complex
factors that could make it need to wage war on Russia. The emerging
Russia-China-India bloc is potentially a very powerful bloc indeed. Further,
the US does not have the EU wholly in its pocket (as Britain is at present)
and Russia is making strong overtures to Germany and even France. Zyuganov,
too, actively supports the home Russian bourgeoisie with his own elite as
part of it, and he argues for an EU-Russia imperialist bloc.
Almost all Russian workers feel they may well be the next target of NATO and
with good reason. The bombing of Yugoslavia was not about local issues at
all, but about this bigger, dangerous game, in which Russia is a central
player
With the Stalinist legacy of ‘socialism in one country’, there is a great
danger ahead. Some form of ultra-nationalist militaristic-corporatist
dictatorship may take power, with Russian capitalism defended and developed
under its umbrella - S.Korea style - but with more fascistic overtones and
certainly a rampant anti-semitism and chauvinism. This is why building
international solidarity with workers in Russia is perhaps the most important
work that Marxists around the globe can do in this period - to encourage and
support internationalism and class struggle against all capital - at home and
abroad. We must show Russian workers in practice " you are not alone". It is
also necessary to take into account that Russian workers already feel
oppressed by the US and IMF.
Steve Myers - co-founder of International Solidarity with Workers in Russia -
ISWoR
_____________________________________________________________________
"The World Crisis of Capitalism and the Post-Soviet States"
An International Conference
Moscow, Saturday 30 October – Monday 1 November 1999
Call for papers / invitation
Dear Friend,
We write to invite you to the above international conference, which will be
held at the Institute of Comparative Political Sciences at Bolshoi Kolpachny
Pereulok in central Moscow. Arrangements for the conference are being made
through Professor Mikhail Voyekov at the Institute of Economics of the
Russian Academy of Sciences.
The conference will provide an opportunity for international scholars from a
range of disciplines, journalists and others with a serious interest in the
current world crisis, and especially with the place of Russia and the
post-Soviet states in it, to meet and exchange views. It is intended that,
within this context, there will also be papers dealing with the past, present
and future of socialist ideas, and in particular with the history of the
Soviet Union and its relationship to Marxism.
The conference will be concerned to encourage fresh thinking about the nature
and causes of the crisis of post-Soviet economy and society, and about the
responses to that crisis of working-class and left-wing movements, both
within the former USSR and outside it. It is hoped to develop continued
working relationships among those attending, whether they work in Russia,
other post-Soviet states, east or west Europe, North America or elsewhere.
Those who wish to present papers are asked to submit a synopsis of up to 500
words (or a complete text) by 30 June 1999. It is intended to publish
conference materials on the internet. A detailed agenda will be available
prior to the conference. If you do not intend to submit a paper but wish to
receive future mailings, please let us know.
We are convinced that this conference is necessary and timely, but
unfortunately we have no substantial financial backing. In addition to asking
you, where necessary, to seek your own financial support to attend, we shall
therefore also be most grateful for suggestions from any organisations or
institutions which may be able to contribute towards our costs. These will
include the provision of interpretation between the two conference languages,
Russian and English, the translation of conference materials etc. Any such
assistance will be fully acknowledged in the conference documentation.
Correspondence may be addressed to Professor Mikhail Voyekov at the Institute
of Economics (address above), Suzi Weissman in the US (e-mail
[EMAIL PROTECTED], fax +1-818-990-6835), or Simon Pirani in the UK
(e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], fax +44-181-333-2152).
Yours comradely,
Aleksandr Buzgalin (Moscow State University, Alternatives editorial board)
Terry Brotherstone (University of Aberdeen, Scotland)
Alexeii Gusev (Moscow State University)
John Holloway (Instituto de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades, Benemerita
Universidad Autonoma de Puebla, Mexico)
Hillel Ticktin (Chairman of Centre for Study of Socialist Theory and
Movements at University of Glasgow (Scotland), editor Critique)
Istvan Meszaros (Professor Emeritus in Philosophy and Political Theory,
University of Sussex (England), and author of Beyond Capital)
Bertell Ollman (New York University)
James Petras (State University of New York)
Hugo Radice (Director, Leeds University Centre for Russian, Eurasian and
Central European Studies)
Mikhail Voyekov (Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences,
Alternatives editorial board)
Suzi Weissman (University of St Mary's California)
NOTES travel and accommodation
VISAS: Those wishing to travel to Moscow will need an official stamped letter
of invitation from the Institute of Economics, which you will need to submit
along with your application for a Russian visa. THIS WHOLE PROCESS CAN TAKE
UP TO TWO MONTHS although in some countries and in some cases it can be done
more quickly. Check with the Russian embassy. Please let us know as soon as
possible if you need a letter of invitation. The conference organisers will
need your name, address, job title, date of birth and passport number to
include in the letter. You should also tell us the earliest possible arrival
date and latest possible departure date (i.e. if you wish to spend any extra
time in Moscow apart from the days of the conference), as the letter of
invitation must stipulate the exact dates of your visit and the visa will
only be issued to cover those dates.
TRAVEL: If you book well in advance, there are many cheap return flights to
Moscow (e.g. £200-£220 from London Heathrow).
ACCOMMODATION: The conference organisers in Moscow will arrange accommodation
for all international visitors attending the conference if asked to do so.
This may be arranged at roughly $50 per night (at the university hotel) or at
roughly $25 per night (in a student dormitory or as a guest in a private
home).
ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT: If you have not visited Russia before and/or you are
not sure how to get into central Moscow from the airport, you should give
advance notice of your time of arrival to the organisers and we will make the
necessary arrangements.
AND FINALLY: With proper precautions (such as arranging to be met at the
airport) Moscow is an extremely interesting and safe place to visit. As well
as its historical associations, it is the home of some of world's major art
collections (at the Pushkin museum, Tretyakov gallery etc). It has fine
Gothic, Baroque, neo-classical and, perhaps less well-known, Art Nouveau
architecture. There are plenty of good restaurants and bars. At very little
extra cost, and with some preparation, you may also spend a few days in
Leningrad.
Contact Address
c/o M. Voyekov, Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences,
Nakhimovsky Prospekt 32, Moscow 117218, Russia.
Tel: +7-095 332 4525 Fax: +7-095 310 7001
April 1999
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