On Wed, Oct 16, 2024 at 05:50 PM, Marv Gandall wrote: > > But, as has been said many times before (1) historical materialism is the > most relevant method of analysis, even though Marxism as prophecy has > fallen well short, and (2) While there is no discernible prospect for > socialism at present, history is not static and change can be quite > abrupt and largely unanticipated, as demonstrated for example by the > collapse of the Soviet Union and the retreat from socialism and class > struggle everywhere in our lifetime.
I don't know what Marv's definition of historical materialism, but mine is the recognition that historical events are driven by economics, and, as Marx demonstrates in his critique of political economy, economics is class struggle by another name. As for the second point, part of the importance of historical materialism is that the examination of past practice actually does allow us to anticipate events, directions, and prepare tactics and strategies based on that assessment. Perhaps Marv and others was surprised by the collapse of the fSU. Others were not. After the defeat of the proletarian revolution in the advanced, and not so advanced countries, the crushing burden of the massive casualties from WW2; the persistent constraint on the economy by armament spending, and the inability to overcome lower agricultural productivity, that collapse should not have surprised historical materialists. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#32929): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/32929 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/109032615/21656 -=-=- 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. #4 Do not exceed five posts a day. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/13617172/21656/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
