Yes, I am with you on that. Lenin wrote a lot on self-determination and national liberation which is helpful in thinking through the unity and struggle of the class/national contradiction. In sum, nationalism ( of which race identity is in a very sharp form) plays a mixed role in the world wide class struggle. One must first determine whether it is nationalism of an oppressed or oppressor nation. If the former, it may play a mixed, good and bad , role in the proletarian revolution. A concrete example of a progressive national liberation movement was that in Viet Nam, which was important in defeating U.S. imperialism. Charles Brown Workers of the World, Unite. Workers of the West, it's our turn >>> "Rod Hay" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 06/01/99 10:36PM >>> Charles Brown and I are much more in agreement that I originally thought. I am afraid of unnecessary splits. The whole "identity politics" of the last few years divorced of class analysis has had a negative effect on progressive politics. They play into the strategy of divide and conquer which the rich and their governments have used so successfully for so many years. If Charles wants to expropriate the expropriators then I am for it. Socialist politics has to address divisions created by history but it should not embrace them. It should focus on the universal, the common interest that the vast majority have in ending capitalist exploitation. Rod Hay [EMAIL PROTECTED] The History of Economic Thought Archives http://socserv2.mcmaster.ca/~econ/ugcm/3ll3/index.html Batoche Books http://www.abebooks.com/home/BATOCHEBOOKS/ ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
