******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. *****************************************************************
I agree with Andy, it's an interesting article and well worth reading. What Parenti does, and without using the term, is laying out a survey of *Bonapartist* political-economy over the last 250 years. However, what I find very valuable here is the understanding of the role of the State as a *prerequisite* for development as capitalism transformed into Imperialism. This article as a survey of industrial development under the many areas of the globe that have gone through this process is a direct affront to...the Libertarian's who believe that only unbridled, unregulated and form where the state buts out of development can work. The a-historical nature of the Libertarian economic program is slammed and destroyed by this article. Libertarianiam is exposed as a fantasy, at least historically, by the thesis Parenti develops here. While Parenti avoids the need for workers revolution and maybe in contradiction to what Andy's implies, the 'solutions' part of his article has a kind of "transitional" program of immediate demands, or perspectives, that flow from the arguments in the article. That is, "mitigating fossil fuel use" he suggests wisely, means using the power of the State, even under capitalism, to enforce other forms of energy. He notes "We need movements that, at least for now, seek to use state power to force capital into new patterns of investment and technological development." I'm for that in some ways. It makes political sense for a movement concerned about climate change, to push for this even if it's book ended by capitalist political economy. He does, perhaps, give to much legitimacy to the concept of the State's "autonomy" and doesn't realize the contradictions between what was in the ruling class' long term interests during the periods in countries he describes and today's speculative based Imperialist political economy. Because of this he doesn't go the necessary step further to suggest that implementing such a radical plan, Imperialism will simply remove that 'autonomy' the State has to insure it's present domination over nature for purposes of short term profit. Still, his description of how development occurred is very valuable. David Walters _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
