Marxism Kritik - DDI 2014 SWS

7/25/2019 Marxism Kritik - DDI 2014 SWS

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Marxism


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1NC(INSERT SPECIFIC LINK)

Capitalism is the overarchin totalit! that overns all oppression" their #isc$rsive %oc$s on cateories o% #i%%erence &LL'S them$ch larer CL&SS C'NFLICT to contin$e

McLaren an# Scatam*$rlo+,-&nni*ale. / (Peter and Valerie, Universityof Windsor, Ontario, University of California, 2004, Educational Philosophy and Theory

Vol 36 No 2, Class Dismissed !istori"al #aterialism and t$e %oliti"s of &differen"e,')

*$e "o$esiveness of t$is %osition s+ests t$at forms of exploitation an# oppression are relate#

internall! to the extent that the! are locate# in the same totalit!- one .$i"$ is"+rrently defined /y "a%italist class r$le Capitalism is an overarchin totalit! that is,

+nfort+nately,*ecomin increasinl! invisi*le in%ost#ar1ist 0#isc$rsive- narrativesthat valorie 0#i%%erenceas a primar! explanator! constr$ctor e1am%le, 5 an

7+an (2003) ar+es t$at race relations an# race con%lict are necessaril! str$ct$re# *!the larer totalit! o% the political econom!of a iven so"iety, as .ell as /y modifi"ations in t$estr+"t+re of t$e .orld e"onomy5 !e f+rt$er notes t$at t$e "a%italist mode of %rod+"tion $as arti"+lated &ra"e' .it$ "lass ina %e"+liar .ay5 !e too is .ort$ a s+/stantial 8+otation9W$ile t$e stanation of r+ral life im%osed a ra"ial or "asteli:eriidity to t$e %easantry, t$e ra%id a""+m+lation of .ealt$ t$ro+$ t$e ever more intensifyin e1%loitation of la/or /y"a%ital "o+ld not so easily &ra"iali;e' t$e .ae.or:ers of a %arti"+lar nation, iven t$e aliena/ility of la/or %o.er-+nless"ertain %$ysi"al or "+lt+ral "$ara"teristi"s "an /e +tili;ed to divide t$e .or:ers or render one ro+% an o+t"ast or %aria$

removed from t$e domain of &free la/or5' In the capitalist #evelopment o% 2S societ!.&%rican. Mexican. an# &sian *o#ies-more %re"isely, t$eir la*or po3erand its re%rod+"tive

effi"a"y-3ere colonie# an# racialie#< $en"e t$e idea of &internal "olonialism' retains e1%lanatoryvalidity5 &Race- is th$s constr$cte# o$t o% ra3 materials %$rnishe# *! class

relations. the histor! o% class con%licts. an# the vicissit$#es o%"olonial=capitalistexpansionand t$e /+ildin of im%erial $eemony5 It is #ialecticall! accente# an#

operationalie# not >+st to differentiate t$e %ri"e of .ae la/or .it$in and o+tside t$e territory of t$emetro%olitan %o.er, /+t also to repro#$ce relations o% #omination?s+/ordination invested .it$ ana+ra of nat+rality and fatality5 *$e ref+n"tionin of %$ysi"al or "+lt+ral traits as ideoloi"al and %oliti"al sinifiers of "lassidentity reifies so"ial relations5 +"$ &ra"ial' mar:ers enter t$e f ield of t$e alienated la/or %ro"ess, "on"ealin t$e artifi"ialnat+re of meanins and norms, and essentiali;in or nat+rali;in $istori"al traditions and val+es .$i"$ are "ontinent on

m+ta/le "ir"+mstan"es5or an 7+an, racism an# nationalism are mo#alities in 3hichclass str$les artic$late themselves at strateic points in histor!5 !e ar+es t$at

racism arose 3ith the creation an# expansion o% the capitalist 3orl#econom!!e maintains, ri$tly in o+r vie., t$at ra"ial or et$ni" ro+% solidarity is iven &meanin and val+e interms of t$eir %la"e .it$in t$e so"ial orani;ation of %rod+"tion and re%rod+"tion of t$e ideoloi"al%oliti"al ordere"t, Or Ca%italo"entrism tri:es Aa":)

Iet +s /ra":et for a moment t$e limitations of %ostmodern=%ost#ar1ist e%istemoloies,toet$er .it$ t$eir %rovisional ontoloy, and fo"+s instead on t$e merits of t$eir%erformative %oliti"s5 W$at is it e1a"tly t$at $as /een="an /e a""om%lis$ed %oliti"allyin t$is ne. %aradim @ .ill %oint o+t t.o res+lts from t$e %ostmodern=%ost#ar1ist

a%%roa"$5 irst,in the postmo#ern=%ost#ar1ist3orl#. it is the (3hite.mi##leclass) postmo#ern intellect$al 3ho ets constit$te# as the ne3

e"ts .it$ %arti"+lar%oliti"al eneries and %ossi/ilities542 *$is, of "o+rse, is no small tas: iven t$at t$e%rod+"tion of ne. :no.ledes is a .orld"$anin a"tivity, one t$at re%ositions ot$er:no.ledes and em%o.ers ne. s+/>e"ts, %ra"ti"es and instit+tions543 Thisprivilein o% postmo#ern+theor! pro#$ction, "o+%led .it$ t$e +ni8+e role"onferred on t$e %ostmodern intelle"t+al in a %oliti"al %ro"ess that privilees#isco$rse at the expense o% instit$tional anal!sis constit$tes(in an ironi" t.ist
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3952/is_200101/ai_n8932891http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3952/is_200101/ai_n8932891


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of fate for %eo%le .$o are so e1%li"itly antiIeninist) nothin short o% a ne3van$ar#ism on post+str$ct$ralist steroi#s5

The Postmo#ern epistemoloical %rame3or6 precl$#es tr$e

revol$tion " it s$*stit$tes val$a*le instit$tional anal!sis %orirreverent intellect$alism

Poitevin, P$D Cand o"iol K UCDavis, :;;1

(Fene ran"is"o, *$e end of anti"a%italism as .e :ne. it9 Fefle"tions on %ostmodern#ar1ism, *$e o"ialist Fevie.,$tt%9==...5findarti"les5"om=%=arti"les=miL8a3M2=isL200B0B=aiLnE32EB)

rom Fadi"al Demo"ra"y to Fevol+tionary Demo"ra"y Iet me finis$ /y addressin t$evision t$in in #ar1ist t$eory, and /y %+ttin for.ard some minimal s+estions for$o. to %ro"eed5 The pro*lem 3ith the Le%tin t$is "o+ntry is not Marx=stheoriin o% capital. it is the Le%t=s pro%o$n# povert! o% vision5 im%ly %+t,3ecannot thin6


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is "alled %erformative in %ostmodern %arlan"e), t$ins .ill event+ally "$ane5 *$e fa"tis t$at the Le%t has *een ettin cr$she#for 8+ite some time no.5 *$e fa"t is t$at itis oin to ta6e more than a ca#re o% postmo#ern intellect$als and a ne.definition of "a%italism to esta*lish a 9$st economic an# political s!stem5 Hndattem%ts to "oo%t and $i>a": #ar1ism for some reformist aenda is not oin to do iteit$er5

The postmo#ern le%t #o3npla!s str$ct$ral ine8$alit! %or %$tile8$estions o% #isco$rse an# representations

Poitevin, P$D Cand o"iol K UCDavis, :;;1

(Fene ran"is"o, *$e end of anti"a%italism as .e :ne. it9 Fefle"tions on %ostmodern#ar1ism, *$e o"ialist Fevie.,$tt%9==...5findarti"les5"om=%=arti"les=miL8a3M2=isL200B0B=aiLnE32EB)

@ ended t$e B0s, $o.ever, %rofo+ndly dissatisfied .it$ /ot$ t$e t$eory and t$e %ra"ti"e of .$at "onstit+tes t$e Ieft int$is "o+ntry5 W$en @ loo: aro+nd and see .$at %asses for radi"al %oliti"s today, @ see a Ieft so a"8+ies"ent and timid in itsdemands t$at one $as to .onder .$at is left of t$e Ieft5 Hnd t$e t$eory and a"tion t$at "laims re"onition as "riti"al, oro%%ositional, is not only more domati"ally anti#ar1ist t$an ever, it is also mas8+eradin itself as so"ialist dis"o+rse5W$at @ see is a U55 Ieft %oliti"al %ra"ti"e ve$ement in r$etori" and tone more invested in %+rs+in a reformist intramiddle "lass li/eral aenda, all in t$e name of oin /eyond #ar1, t$an .it$ t$e .ell/ein of t$e ma>ority of %eo%le in

t$is "o+ntry5 This is a Le%t that insists on #o3npla!in instit$tional an#str$ct$ral ine8$alit!. the as!mmetric #istri*$tion o% social an# economic

po3er. in %avor o% iss$es concernin lan$ae. c$lt$ral representation,%ro"ed+ral demo"ra"y, a""ess to elite em%loyment, an#environmental deradation as a 8$alit!+o%+li%eiss+e5 omy "riti8+e of a"t+ally e1istin U55 Iefts "omes o+t of my o.n need for intelle"t+al and %oliti"al self"larifi"ation, /+tmore im%ortantly, it is a .ay to loo: for.ard to .$at m+st /e done5*$is a%%roa"$, $o.ever, re8+ires /y .ay ofintrod+"tion a %reliminary inventory and assessment of .$at @ mean /y a"t+ally e1istin U55 Iefts5 W$ile @ a":no.ledet$at t$e Ieft is /y no means monolit$i", it is %ossi/le to %rovide a "riti8+e of radi"al %oliti"s /y loo:in at t$e a"ademi"Ieft in t$e +niversity5*$is %a%er is first a "riti8+e of .$at "onstit+tes t$e Ieft in a"ademia t$e %overty of %oliti"s andt$eory in t$e ivory to.er relates dire"tly to t$e "risis of t$e /roader Ieft5 Wit$in t$is a"ademi" "onte1t, radi"aldemo"ra"yS $as /een t$e IeftSs dominant t$eoreti"al orientation for t$e last t.o de"ades5 Hnd .it$in t$e radi"aldemo"ra"y tradition itself, t$e Hm$erst "$ool of %ostmodern #ar1ism, .$i"$ @ .ill e1%lain in more detail s$ortly, $as/een t$e most vo"al trend in a"ademi" "ir"les sin"e t$e mid B0s (as any/ody .$o .ent to t$eir #ar1ism 2000Conferen"e or .$o $as loo:ed at t$eir >o+rnal Fet$in:in #ar1ism "an testify5) Hs t$e title of t$is %a%er s+ests, a "losereadin of t$e Hm$erst "$ool of %ostmodern #ar1ism as standard /earer for an a"ademi" Ieft .ill allo. me to enae.it$ t$e /roader "+rrent %oliti"al "risis in Ieft %oliti"s and radi"al demo"ra"y5@ /ein .it$ t$e %ostmodern(mis)a%%ro%riation of Hlt$+sserSs notion of overdetermination, namely t$e int+ition t$at reality is so "om%le1 t$at it is/etter +nderstood as a m+lti"a+sal %ro"ess rat$er t$an as a str+"t+ral or systemi" me"$anism, as in t$e traditional#ar1ist e1%lanation of "a%italism5 *$en, t$ro+$ a "lose readin of 75Q5 Ri/sonRra$amSs (.$i"$ is t$e %rofessional name

of s"$olars 7+lie Rra$am and Qat$erine Ri/son), *$e nd of Ca%italism (Hs We Qne. @t),2 @ s$o. t$at #espite itsint$itive anal!tical appeal an# theoretical sophistication. their *oo6espo$ses an $nconvincin an# $ltimatel! reactionar! postmo#ern7post+Marxist politics + one that is $ltimatel! pre#icate# aro$n# ho3 to ma6e

capitalism more $ser %rien#l!5 @ .ill s$o. t$at to practice or


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%redi"ated on a ret$in:in of #ar1ist t$eory from a %oststr+"t+ralist stand%oint,M "ame toet$er as a re"oni;a/le "l+sterd+rin t$e late BE0s, first t$ro+$ t$e .ritins of s"$olars li:e Fi"$ard Wolff, te%$en Fesni":, and David F+""io, andlater t$ro+$ t$e %+/li"ation of t$e >o+rnal Fet$in:in #ar1ism and "onferen"es s%onsored /y t$e Hsso"iation for"onomi" and o"ial Hnalysis (HH), and a ne.er eneration of s"$olars t$at "an /e tra"ed to t$e University of#assa"$+setts at Hm$erst (t$ey eit$er tea"$, .or:ed, or rad+ated from t$ere5)6 O%eratin .it$in t$e /roader traditionof radi"al demo"ra"y triered /y Ia"la+ and #o+ffeSs !eemony and o"ialist tratey, t$e Hm$erst "$ool s%ent t$eB0s fero"io+sly de/atin and advo"atin t$eir vision of %oliti"s %redi"ated on t$e overdetermination of t$e so"ial.orld, namely, t$e "laim t$at "a+sal e1%lanations of so"ial %$enomena, and ma"roanalyses of e"onomi" systems, are really

not$in more t$an myt$s and fi"tions t$at "annot stand t$e "rosse1amination of dis"+rsive analysis and t$e analyti"al%o.er of %oststr+"t+ralist tools5Ae"a+se of t$e "lose overla% /et.een t$e "riti8+es of #ar1ism es%o+sed /y radi"aldemo"ra"y, a la Ia"la+ and #o+ffe, and %ostmodern #ar1ism, a la 75Q5 Ri/sonRra$am, @ +se t$e term%ostmodern=%ost#ar1ism to refer to t$e e%istemoloi"al and %oliti"al oals t$ey s$are in "ommon5 Ay%ostmodern=%ost#ar1ism @ refer to t$e s$ared set of %ositions t$ro+$ .$i"$ radi"al demo"ra"y and t$e Hm$erst"$ool red+"e #ar1ism to a teleoloi"al, totali;in, and essentiali;in tradition5 #oreover, .it$in t$e radi"aldemo"ra"y= %ost modern #ar1ism s"$ool, "lassi"al #ar1ism is also +nderstood to /e an in$erently e"onomisti" and

"lassred+"tionist %aradim5 Aot$ traditions s$are a "ommitment to postmo#ern politicst$at re%$ses toprivilee class oppressions over other %orms o% #omination5 Hnd the! re%$se totheorie capitalism as a macro+level social str$ct$re that is inherentl!exploitative5 *$+s it ma:es sense to "om/ine t$em /ot$ for analyti"al %+r%oses +nder t$e r+/ri" of%ostmodern=%ost#ar1ists5 *$e main differen"e /et.een radi"al demo"rats and %ostmodern #ar1ists is t$at t$e formera/sol+tely ref+se to +se t$e la/el #ar1ist to des"ri/e t$emselves, .$ile t$e latter a""e%t t$e la/el5 Fadi"al demo"ra"y isdefinitely a %ost#ar1ist tradition, .it$ Ia"la+ and #o+ffe its /est:no.n mem/ers5 (#ost) %ostmodern #ar1ists, on

t$e ot$er $and, still "laim t$e la/el #ar1ists to "onstr+"t t$emselves, even if, at times, t$ey mi$t /e "onfli"ted a/o+t it5@n so doin, it is not at all "lear .$at in t$e #ar1ist tradition t$e %ost#ar1ists are a"tively dra.in on5 *$e need t$at 75Q5Ri/sonRra$am e1$i/it in one of t$eir essays to "larify t$eir selfidentifi"ation as #ar1ists $o.ever t$inly is a %erfe"te1am%le of t$e +ses of #ar1ism to des"ri/e t$e Hm$erst "$ool9 *$e "$a%ter reads as a #ar1ist s%ea:in to ana+dien"e of #ar1ists /e"a+se t$e %a%er .as first %resented at a #ar1ist "onferen"e5E

Post+al theoriations sereate #i%%erence %rom class %ormation" the res$lt is a %ail$re to correctl! conceive o% the materialnat$re o% social relations

McLaren an# Scatam*$rlo+,-&nni*ale. / (Peter and Valerie, Universityof Windsor, Ontario, University of California, 2004, Educational Philosophy and TheoryVol 36 No 2, Class Dismissed !istori"al #aterialism and t$e %oliti"s of &differen"e,')

&Post+al- theoriations of &differen"e' circ$mvent an# $n#ermineany systemati":no.lede of the material #imensions o% #i%%erence an#tend to sereate8$estions o% 0#i%%erence- %rom class %ormation an# capitalist social relations5

We t$erefore /elieve t$at it is ne"essary to (re)"on"e%t+ali;e &differen"e' /y dra.in+%on #ar1's materialist and $istori"al form+lations5 0,i%%erence- nee#s to *e$n#erstoo# as the pro#$ct o% social contra#ictionsand in relation to politicalan# economic orani+ ation5 We need to a":no.lede t$at &ot$erness' and=or#i%%erenceis not somet$in t$at %assively $a%%ens, /+t, rat$er, is activel!pro#$ce#5 @n ot$er .ords, sin"e s!stems o% #i%%erencesalmost al3a!s involverelations o% #omination an# oppression, .e m+st "on"ern o+rselves .it$ t$ee"onomies of relations of differen"e t$at e1ist in s%e"ifi" "onte1ts5 Dra.in +%on t$e#ar1ist "on"e%t of mediation ena/les +s to +nsettle o+r "ateori"al a%%roa"$es to /ot$"lass and differen"e, for it .as #ar1 $imself .$o .arned aainst "reatin falsedi"$otomies in t$e sit+ation of o+r %oliti"s-t$at it .as a/s+rd to &"$oose /et.een"ons"io+sness and t$e .orld, s+/>e"tivity and so"ial orani;ation, %ersonal or "olle"tive


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.ill and $istori"al or str+"t+ral determination5' @n a similar vein, it is e8+ally a/s+rd tosee &differen"e as a $istori"al form of "ons"io+sness +n"onne"ted to "lass formation,develo%ment of "a%ital and "lass %oliti"s' (Aanner>i, BM, %5 30)5 Aanner>i %oints to t$eneed to $istori"i;e &differen"e' in relation to t$e $istory and so"ial orani;ation of "a%italand "lass (in"l+sive of im%erialist and "olonialist lea"ies)5&pprehen#in themeanin an# %$nction o% #i%%erencein t$is manner ne"essarily hihlihts theimport+ ance o%e1%lorin (B) t$e instit$tional an# str$ct$ral aspectsofdifferen"e< (2) t$e meanins t$at et atta"$ed to "ateories of differen"e< and (3) ho3#i%%erences are pro#$ce# o$t o%, and lived .it$in s%e"ifi" historical%ormations5M


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4Creatin Space5 Lin6Creatin space %or excl$#e# voices IS neoli*eral pl$ralism " itcannot pose a challene to capitalism *eca$se it is roote# 3ithinmar6etplace



#oreover, it %resents a "$allene to t$ose t$eori;ations t$at .or: to "onsolidate&identitarian' +nderstandins of differen"e /ased e1"l+sively on 8+estions of "+lt+ral orra"ial $eemony5 @n s+"$ a%%roa"$es, the ans3er to oppressionoften amo$nts tocreatin reater c$lt$ral space %or the %ormerl! excl$#e# to have their voiceshear# (represente#)5 @n t$is reard, m+"$ of .$at is "alled t$e &%oliti"s of differen"e'

is little more t$an a demand for in"l+sion into t$e "l+/ of re%resentation -a post$re3hich reinscri*es a neo+li*eral pl$ralist stance roote# in the i#eolo! o%

%ree+mar6et capitalism5 @n s$ort, the political sphere is mo#ele# on themar6etplace an# %ree#om amo$nts to the li*ert! o% all ven#ors to #ispla!

their 0#i%%erent- c$lt$ral oo#s5 W$at advo"ates of t$is a%%roa"$ fail to address ist$at the %orces o% #iversit! an# #i%%erence are allo3e# to %lo$rish provi#e#that the! remain 3ithin the prevailin %orms o% capitalist socialarranements The neo+ pl$ralism o% #i%%erence%oliti"s (in"l+din t$ose /asedon &ra"e') cannot a#e8$atel! pose a s$*stantive challene to the pro#$ctives!stem o% capitalism that is a*le to accommo#ate a vast pl$ralism o% i#eas

an# c$lt$ral practices. an# cannot capt$re the 3a!s in 3hich vario$s

mani%estations o% oppression are intimatel! connecte# to the central#!namics o% capitalist exploitation


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Mi##le Passae7&tlantic Econom! Lin6The Mi##le Passae is the capitalist process o% a*straction "separatin la*or %rom the social context an# relations thatpro#$ce it

?rae*er. @ (David, 2006, Critique of Anthropology, Vol5 26 No5 B, *+rnin #odesof Prod+"tion @nside O+t9 Or, W$y Ca%italism is a *ransformation of lavery, H)

We "an o/serve t$e follo.in traits s$ared /y slaver! an# capitalism9(B) Aoth rel! on a

separation o% the%la"e of so"ial (re)%rod+"tion of t$e la*or %orce. an# the place 3herethat la*or+po3er is realie# in pro#$ction? int$e "ase of slaver!. this is e%%ecte#

*! transportin la*orers/o+$t or stolen %rom one societ! into another one< incapitalism. *! separatin the #omestic sphere (t$e s%$ere of so"ial %rod+"tion) %rom the

3or6place5 @n ot$er .ords, .$at is effe"ted /y %$ysi"al distan"e in one is effe"ted /y t$e anonymity of t$e mar:et in

t$e ot$er5(2) *$e transfer is effe"ted t$ro+$ e1"$anin $+man %o.ers for money9 eit$er /y sellin .or:ers, or $irint$em (essentially, allo.in t$em to rent t$emselves)5(3) 'ne e%%ect o% that trans%er is 0social#eath-, in the sense thatt$e "omm+nities, :ins$i% relationsand so fort$ that shape# the

3or6er are, in %rin"i%le, s$ppose# to have no relevance in the 3or6place5 *$is is tr+ein "a%italism too, at least in %rin"i%le9 a .or:er's et$ni" identity, so"ial net.or:s, :in ties and t$e rest s$o+ld not $ave anyeffe"t on $irin or $o. one is treated in t$e offi"e or s$o% floor, t$o+$ of "o+rse in reality t$is isn't tr+e5(4) #ost"riti"ally, t$e finan"ial transa"tion in /ot$ "ases %rod+"es a/stra"t la/or,.$i"$ is %+re "reative %otential5 *$is is "reated/y t$e effe"ts of "ommand5 H/stra"t la/or is t$e s$eer %o.er of "reation, to do anyt$in at all5 veryone mi$t /e said to"ontrol a/stra"t la/or in t$eir o.n %erson, /+t in order to e1tend it f+rt$er, one $as to %la"e ot$ers in a %osition .$eret$ey .ill /e effe" tively an e1tension of one's .ill, "om%letely at one's orders5 lavery, military servi"e and vario+s formsof "orvTe are t$e main forms in .$i"$ t$is $as mani fested itself $istori"ally5 O/vio+sly, t$is too is somet$in of an+nreali;ed ideal9 t$is is in fa"t %re"isely t$e area of most la/or str+le5 A+t it's .ort$y of note t$at fe+dalism (ormanorialism if yo+ %refer) tends to.ards e1a"tly t$e o%%osite %rin"i%le9 t$e d+ties o.ed /y liee to lord .ere very s%e"ifi"and intri "ately ma%%ed o+t5(M) H "onstant ideoloi"al a""om%animent of t$is sort of arranement is an ideoloy offreedom5 Hs #oses inley first %ointed o+t (BE0), most so"ieties ta:e it for ranted t$at no $+man is "om%letely free or

"om%letely de%endent, rat$er, all $ave different derees of ri$ts and o/liations5 *$e modern ideal of %oliti"al li/erty, infa"t, $as $istori"ally tended to emere from so"ieties .it$ e1treme forms of "$attel slavery (Peri"les' Ht$ens, 7efferson'sVirina), essentially as a %oint of "ontrast5 #edieval >+rists, for e1am%le, ass+med every ri$t .as someone else'so/liation and vi"e versa< t$e modern do"trine of li/erty as a %ro%erty of $+mans one "o+ld %ossess .as develo%ed%re"isely in Iis/on and Hnt.er%, t$e "ities t$at .ere at t$e "enter of t$e slave trade at t$e time< and t$e most "ommono/>e"tion to t$is ne. notion of li/erty at t$e time .as t$at if one o.ns one's freedom, it s$o+ld t$en also /e %ossi/le to sellit (*+":, B)5 !en"e t$e do"trine of %ersonal li/erty ? o+tside t$e .or:%la"e ? or even t$e notion of freedom of"ontra"t, t$at one so often en"o+nters in so"ieties dominated /y .ae la/or, does not really mean .e are dealin .it$ af+nda mentally different sort of system5 @t means .e are dealin .it$ a transformation5 We are dealin .it$ t$e sameterms, differently arraned, so t$at rat$er t$an one "lass of %eo%le /ein a/le to imaine t$emselves as a/sol+tely &free'/e"a+se ot$ers are a/sol+tely +nfree, .e $ave t$e same individ+als movin /a": and fort$ /et.een t$ese t.o %ositions

over t$e "o+rse of t$e .ee: and .or:in day5o, in effe"t, a trans%ereffe"ted >+st on"e,*! sale. $n#er areime o% slaver! is trans%orme# into one that is repeate# over an# overaain $n#er capital+ ismNo., it mi$t seem a /it im%ertinent to "om%are t$e mornin "omm+te to the

Mi##le Passae, /+t str+"t+rally t$ey do seem to %lay e1a"tly t$e same role5 W$at is accomplishe#on"e, andviolentl! an# cata+ strophicall!, in one variant, is re%eated .it$ endless mindn+m/indr+dery in t$e ot$er5@ s$o+ld em%$asi;e t$at .$en @ say one mode of %rod+"tion is a trans formation of t$e ot$er, @ amtal:in a/o+t t$e %erm+tation of loi"al terms5 @t doesn't ne"essarily im%ly t$at one re. o+t of t$e ot$er, or even t$att$ere .as any $istori"al "onne"tion at all5 @ am not ne"essarily ta:in iss+e, for e1am%le, .it$ t$e $istori"al ar+ment t$at"a%italism first emered .it$in t$e nlis$ ari"+lt+ral se"tor in t$e B6t$ and Bt$ "ent+ries, rat$er t$an from londistan"e trade (Arenner, B6, B< Do//, B4< Wood, 2002)5 Or %er$a%s @ s$o+ld /e more s%e"ifi"5 @t seems to me t$att$e &Arenner $y%ot$esis', as it's "alled, "an a""o+nt for t$e first t.o of t$e t$ree feat+res t$at define ind+strial "a%italismas a mode of %rod+"tion9 it demonstrates t$at t$e emeren"e of .ae la/or in t$e ari"+lt+ral se"tor develo%ed $and in$and .it$ str+"t+ral for"es t$at demanded evere1%and in %rofits5 !o.ever, it doesn't e1%lain t$e t$ird9 t$e emerinr+ral %role tariats .ere, in leal %rin"i%le and +s+ally in %ra"ti"e, servants resident in t$eir em%loyers' $o+se$olds (see


13/65

e55 Q+ssma+l, BEB)5 Ht t$e same time, thissame ae o% 0merchant capitalism- #i# see a

s$##en an# spectac$lar revival o% the instit$tion o% chattel slaver!and ot$er formsof for"ed la/or, .$i"$ $ad larely vanis$ed in +ro%e d+rin t$e late #iddle Hes ? even t$o+$ t$ese .ere leally

"onfined to t$e "olonies5 Hs C5I5F5 7ames ar+ed lon ao, rationali;ed in#$strial techni8$es 3ere

larel! #evelope# on slave plantations. an# m$ch o% the 3ealth that %$n#e#the Ind+strial Revol+tion emere# %rom the slave tra#eand even more from ind+stries .it$ servile

.or: for"es (Ala+t, B39 203?M< 7ames, B3E< Williams, B44)5 This ma6es sense5 Wae la/or relations mi$t$ave emered amon &im%rovin' land lords d+rin t$at first %eriod, /+t t$e3ealth! tra#ers o% the time

3ere a%ter 0a*stract la*or-in t$e easiest form %ossi/le< t$eir first im%+lse .as to +se slaves+ll,ind+strial, "a%italism mi$t t$en /e said to $ave emered only .$en t$e t.o f+sed5 One mi$t s%e"+late t$at one reasonlares"ale mer"$ants event+ally "ame to a%%ly .ae la/or at $ome, even .it$in t$e ind+strial se"tor, .as not /e"a+seslavery or ot$er forms of for"ed la/or %roved ineffi"ient as a form of %rod+"tion, /+t rat$er /e"a+se it did not "reateeffi"ient mar:ets for "ons+m%tion9 one "annot sell m+"$ of anyt$in to slaves, and at least at t$at time it .as diffi"+lt to:ee% one's %o%+lation of %rod+"ers and "ons+mers on entirely different "ontinents5

Capitalism an# slaver! operate in #!namic sim$ltaneit! " onl!anal!in the latter o*%$scates the larer str$ct$re o%

exploitation " 3e M2ST conceive o% the political econom! o% the&tlantic as a sinle space #e%ine# *! la*or an# tra#e

Bohnson. / (Walter, University of Pennsylvania,Journal of the Early PublicVol 24No 2, +mmer 2004, *$e Pedestal and t$e Veil9 Fet$in:in t$e Ca%italism=lavery+estion, H)

The existin #isc$ssion, t$at is to say, has #evolve# into a set o% more+or+lessta$toloical propositions a*o$t ho3 !o$ #e%ine the cateories o%historical

anal!sis(if "a%italismis defined as t$atmodeof%rod+"tion"$ara"teri;ed/y.aela/or t$en slavery .as, /ydefinition, not "a%ital ist)5 A+t doesnSt it ma6e more sense to thin6 a*o$t the political

econ+om! o% theei$teent$ and nineteent$"ent+ry&tlantic as a sinle space. its#imensions #e%ine# *! %lo3s o% people. mone!. an# oo#s.its nestedtem%oralities

set *! interloc6in(t$o+$ "learly distin"t) la*or reimes, "y"li"al r$yt$ms of "+ltivation an#%orein exchane, and s$ared stan dards of "al"+la/ility and meas+rementS2*ry for >+st a min+te to ima ine

t$e $istory of t$at /olt of cottont$at #ar1 left o+t of Ca%ital5 @t ha# *een *o$ht *e%ore it evenexiste# *! a Aritish *$!er 3ho exten#e# cre#it in sterlin to an &merican %actor

It ha# *een p$t in the ro$n#.ten#e#. pic6e#. *ae#. *ale#. an# shippe# *!an &merican slave5 @t $ad raded o+t .ell and /ro+$t a %remi+m %ri"e /e"a+se it .as free oftras$ (leaves,stems, sti":s, ro":s, et"5) and stains (.$i"$ res+lted from "otton /ein left in t$e field too lon after it /loomed)< its"ondition, t$at is, refle"ted t$e %al%a/le %resen"e of standards of t$e e1"$ane in Iiver%ool in t$e la/or reime t$atoverned Io+isiana5 @t $ad /een s$i%%ed in t$e name of a %lanter .$o .as t$+s lia/le for any differen"e /et.een t$e %ri"e$e $ad re"eived in advan"e and t$e %ri"e for .$i"$ it.as event+ally solda %lanter, t$at is, .$o .as leally %resent at t$ee1"$ane on .$i"$ $is "otton .as sold5 @t $ad /een s+mmed o+t in t$ea""o+nts /et.een %lanters and fa"tors in dollarst$at t$e fa"tors $ad/o+$t .it$ t$e sterlin t$ey $ad re"eived from nlis$ /+yers and sold to nort$ern mer"$ant

/an:ers .$o .o+ld %ass iton to t$ose see:in to/+y nlis$ man+fa"t+res5 Hnd ha# *een %inishe# in anEnlish mill. ma#e into a coat. an# en#e# $p on the *ac6 o% an Enlish

millhan# 3hopai# %or it 3ith his 3aes5B3In tr!in to re%rame thecapitalism7slaver! #isc$ssionas a set of 8+estions a/o+t ei$teent$ and nineteent$"ent+ry Htlanti"

%oliti"al e"on omy, it miht *e 3orth>+st for a se"ond (/e"a+se t$at is all it .ill ta:e)to see 3hatMarx #i# sa! a*o$tt$e $istory of slaver! in Capital5 Fi$t /efore t$e /+siness a/o+t t$e veil and t$e


14/65

%edestal $e .rote t$is9 hilstthe cotton in#$str! intro#$ce# chil#+slaver! in

Enlan#. it ave in the 2nite# States a stim$l$s to the trans%ormation o% theearlier. more or lesspatriarchal slaver!. into a s!stem o% commercial

exploitation5SB4 W$at is stri:in a/o+t t$is senten"e is t$e first .ord9 .$ilst5 It %ramest$erelation of .$at.e $ave /een "allin


15/65

Afrofuturism LinkBlack science ction focuses on historical particularities

past and futureprecludes historical analysis of broader

class exploitation

Reynolds,The Guardian, 1997

(Simon, The Gaurdian, KODWO ESHUN, More Brilliant Than The

Sun: Adenture! in Soni" #i"tion,$

htt%:&&'rinthenoi!e!imonre)nold!*'lo!%ot*"om&+-&.&'rin/

noi!e/deleted/!"ene/01/2od3o*html, a""e!!ed 4&+5&.0 'h6ddi7

More Brilliant Than The Sun i! a !ure) o8 the black science ctiontenden") in mu!i", 8rom 9ee err) and Geore

;linton to "ontem%orar) !oni" 3i"tion=: the other3orldl) i!ta! and alien mind!"a%e! "on?ured ') enre! li2e du' reae, hi% ho%, te"hno, and

?unle* The 'oo2 2i"2! o@ at 'lit


16/65

Micropolitics Lin6Micropolitical movements ce#e class anal!sis %or examination o%cons$mptive relations that #istracts %rom o*9ective mo#es o%exploitation

E*ert. P$5D5, University of #innesota in Criti"al and C+lt+ral *$eory and Professor in!+manities at University of Hl/any, :;;(*eresa I5,Science and Society, Femateriali;in eminism, 7an+ary 200M, Vol5 6 No5B, >stor, a""essed =2=B4 /$Kddi)

The emerence o% micropolitics mar6s the impact o%the lo*aliation o% capitalistpro#$ction an# the 3a!that the #imensions o%this o*9ective realit! have

*ecome lessan# less raspa*le *! a s$*9ect3ho. thro$h the 3or6in o% i#eolo!. has *eenremappe# as the s$*9ect o% #esire The s$*9ect o% #esire is. *! its ver! %ormation. a local an# localists$*9ect This #esirin s$*9ect rasps the 3orl# thro$h its i#entit! an# %$rthermore constr$cts thisi#entit! thro$h the sat+ is%actions that it ac8$ires in its cons$min relations to the 3orl# aro$n# it

Micropolitics is the politics o% cons$mption. an# cons$mp+ tion is al3a!s a matter o%localities Micropolitics #oes not have an inverse relation to $niversal o*9ective realit!. *$t rather is

comple+ mentar! to itD it preocc$pies the s$*9ect 3ith the here an# no3 an# . in #oinso. #istracts its attention %rom the all encompassin o*9ective realit! that in

%act #etermines the here an# no3 vance# capi+ talism #eplo!s micropolitics to restrict theaccess o% the s$*9ect to the #!namics o% travelin capital an# its expan#in rane o% exploitation It is o%co$rse ironic that micropolitics is seen as ena*lin politics + a politics that atten#s to the connections an#relations o% the s$*9ect 3ith its imme#iate con#itions an# serves as the *asis %or coalition an# other localpractices In %act. micropolitics has *ecome the loic o% activism in the ne3 social movements To sa!

3hat I have sai# in a #i%%erent 3a!D micropolitics is the politics o% *!passin class an#p$ttin in its place li%est!le an# cons$mption It is a politics that erases an! examinationo% the str$ct$res o% exploitation.s$*stit$tin instea# ethnoraphical st$#ies o% the *ehavioro% the s$*9ect in its m$ltiple cons$min relations


17/65

Moralit!Invo6in moral principles as sel%+evi#ent tr$ths inores ho3class an# histor! in%orm moralit!

Clo$#. P$D in F$etori"al t+dies from @o.a and Professor in University of *e1asComm+ni"ations De%artment. :;;

(Dana,Rhetoric and Public Affairs, Aeyond vil9 Understandin Po.er #aterially andF$etori"ally, all 2003, m+se, Vol5 6 No5 3, a""essed 26B4 /$Kddi)

Hainst an imainary interlo"+tor, Marx an# Enels ar$e that there are no eternal tr$thsor moral co#es. onl! the pro#$ction o% moralit! in the service o% classes at

#i%%erent historical moments5E Citi;ens today easily +nderstand t$is %ro%osition .$en it is a%%lied toindivid+als9 tealin food .$en $+nry is morally distin"t from a "or%orate e1e"+tive's lootin t$e retirement savins of$is or $er em%loyees5 Qillin an intr+der in selfdefense is a matter a%art from "old/looded m+rder5 #ar1 and nels'

%oint is t$at on a /roader s"ale3e can appl! the same principle. examinin the motivesan# contexts %or actions that miht. in some a*stract sense. *e rear#e# asevil. *$t 3hich. on closer examination. can *e morall! an# politicall!

9$sti%ie#5 *$e most sinifi"ant test of t$e $istori"al materialist a%%roa"$ to morality, ar+a/ly, .as t$e F+ssianFevol+tion5 *$e revol+tion, even /efore its deeneration into talinism, $as /een de"ried as violent /y "onservatives,li/erals, and anar"$ists5 @n *$eir #orals and O+rs, *rots:y ar+es aainst t$e idea t$at violent means are al.ays immoral5!e ans.ers li/eral "riti"s of t$e Aols$evi: revol+tion .$o ar+e t$at fas"ism and "omm+nism are moral e8+als in t$e/elief t$at t$e ends >+stify t$e means5 Hainst t$is "$are, *rots:y defends t$e F+ssian Fevol+tion d+rin t$e "ivil .ar

years, d+rin .$i"$ $e $eaded t$e Fed Hrmy5B0 *rots:y's /oo: ar+es t$at criteria %or ethical an#political 9$#ment sho$l# *e #erive# %rom act$al experience on earth. not%rom allee# eternal tr$ths that are sai# to exist o$tsi#e o% histor! an#

societ!H "onsistent $istori"al materialist, $e ar+es, .ill a%%ly t$e %rin"i%les of $istori"al materialism to 8+estions of

morality, lo"atin t$e "lass /eloninness of moral %rin"i%les andcontext$aliin action in terms o%circ$mstance an# p$rpose Moral principles cannot transcen# their class

*asis *rots:y .rites, #orality is a %rod+"t of so"ial develo%ment< t$ere is not$in imm+ta/le a/o+t it< it serves so"ial

interests< t$ese interests are "ontradi"tory< moralit! more than an! other %orm o% i#eolo!has a class characterBB @n "lass so"iety, violen"e and lyin are t$e norms, t$e very %rin"i%les +%on .$i"$ a

system of e1%loitation and o%%ression de%ends5ae slaver! is #e%ine# as theOFU# M33 4%reemar6et5 an# the %ree#om to exploit others as a virt$e < .ars aainst rival %o.ers forterritory, reso+r"es, and eo%oliti"al "ontrol are >+stified in terms of alleed $+manitarian ends, even .$en t$ese .ars :illmore "ivilians t$an t$ey save5 *rots:y's /oo: is an e1amination of t$e morality of t$e violen"e of a revol+tion t$at so+$t

to overt+rn "lass so"iety5 !e ar+es t$at moral principlesalleedly applie# $niversall! acrossclass are, first, not act$all! applie# evenhan#e#l! across class(t$e .ealt$y and %o.erf+l

/rea: t$e r+les all t$e time), an#se"ond, are $se# to con#emn an! revol$tion in the e!es

o% histor!5 Civil .ar is t$e s+%reme e1%ression of t$e "lass str+le5 *o attem%t to s+/ordinate it to a/stra"t &norms'means in fa"t to disarm t$e .or:ers in t$e fa"e of an enemy armed to t$e teet$5B2


18/65

NietscheThere are val$es " Nietche-s em*racement o% politicalemptiness #ivorces moral cateories %rom class anal!sis

Clo$#. P$D in F$etori"al t+dies from @o.a and Professor in University of *e1asComm+ni"ations De%artment. :;;

(Dana,Rhetoric and Public Affairs, Aeyond vil9 Understandin Po.er #aterially andF$etori"ally, all 2003, m+se, Vol5 6 No5 3, a""essed 26B4 /$Kddi)

*$is dis"+ssion $i$li$ts t$e historical an# imme#iate context$al %actorst$at*elieany easy

or even$anded application o% the moral cateories o% oo# an# evil@s it evil to resisto""+%ation @s evil even t$e ri$t term to des"ri/e s+i"ide /om/ins if t$ey are seen in t$e "onte1t of t$e $istori"al

im/alan"e of for"es in t$e reion Hfter a t$oro+$ $istori"al and "onte1t+al e1amination, t$is :ind of "riti"ism ta:es sidesand ena/les its a+dien"e to form+late o%inion and >+dment t$at allo. for a"tion5 @t "onte1t+ali;es Palestinian violen"eand t$e violen"e of t$e =BB $i>a":ers in terms of a defensive str+le aainst U55 and @sraeli im%erialism5 @t .o+ld not.ei$ t$e violen"e of t$e s+i"ide /om/er e8+ally .it$ t$e violen"e of t$e @sraeli army5 Hnd t$o+$ it .o+ld "ondemn, on$+manist ro+nds, any taretin of inno"ent "ivilian lives in a %oliti"al str+le, it .o+ld not .ei$ e8+ally t$e violen"e of

t$e terrorists .it$ t$e violen"e of t$e U55 state5 @n t$is analysis, evil is relevant onl! as a rhetorical

%orm$lation that attempts to mo*ilie comm$nities %or en#s that are not , int$e end, e8$all! in the interests o% ever!one calle# to i#enti%ication 3ith the

invo6e# moral or#er F$etori"al s"$olars m+st et /eyond evil-in t$e sense of e1%osin t$e r$etori"ity ofs+"$ a%%arently +niversal "on"e%ts-and $el% o+r st+dents and a+dien"es to do t$e same5 A+t in t$e %ro"ess, .e m+st not

ive +% t$e ro+nds for >+dment and a"tion5& criti8$e o% moralit! #oes not necessaril!

entail a relativie# 3orl# in 3hich the 3ill to po3er is the onl! $i#in i#eal& critical rhetoric *ase# ont$e .or:s of Nietsche. an#after $im Fo$ca$lt. ma! not

et *e!on# evil so m$ch as it ma! em*race a 6in# o% political emptiness 5 *$eains of %oliti"al "onte1t+ali;ation of evil are availa/le in t$e $+manist tradition of $istori"al materialism and an

+nderstandin of t$e "lass fo+ndations of moral %ra"ti"e5 There are s$ch thins as oo#s an#

virt$es 3e 9$st have to *e as6in 3hose oo#s the! are an# 3hat an# 3hoseen#s the! serveHt t$e end of t$e day, it "omes do.n to .$i"$ side .e are on5


19/65

Pirates Lin6sPirac! arose o$t o% capitalist exploitation &N, has economic$tilit! " re9ect their romanticiation o% pirac!

Cal#3ell 11(Hmeri"an >o+rnalist and senior editor at *$e Wee:ly tandard, as .ell as are+lar "ontri/+tor to t$e inan"ial *imes and late, Pira"y is >+st a %art of a "a%italist system,inan"ial *imes, $tt%9==...5ft5"om="ms=s=0=ddBdM42Ef/2dBBe0EM600B44fea/4a5$tmla1;;27mmPG%Df, B0=2B=BB)

H /oo: re"ently %+/lis$ed in ran"e ? I'Oranisation Pirate /y Fodol%$e D+rand and7eanP$ili%%e Verne, /ot$ so"ial s"ientists at t$e "ole des !a+tes t+desCommer"iales ? des"ri/es pirac! as are"+rrent %eat$re o% capitalism5 W$ile t$ea+t$ors +nderstand t$at it "an /e "o+nter%rod+"tive to et into ar+ments a/o+t"a%italism, sin"e no t.o %eo%le ever mean t$e same t$in /y it, the! lin6 pirac! to

capitalism-s nee# %or a $ni%orm leal reime across territoriesW$en la.s andte"$noloies "$ane, %ira"y ? /roadly +nderstood as t$e re>e"tion of a+t$orities' "laim to"ontrol %rivate %ro%erty in any realm ? tends to arise5 *$is .as tr+e .$en t$e ae ofnaviation led sailors into .aters .$ere no one .as r+ler, and it is tr+e on t$e frontiersof t$e information ae today5 Pirac!, in fa"t, often has an economic $tilit!@lleal%eerto%eer file do.nloads $ave "ertainly fa"ilitated t$e transition to a /oo:less,"inemaless .orld5 *$is is not to say t$at %ira"y ma:es t$e .orld a /etter %la"e5 *$e"onomist re"ently des"ri/ed t$e sit+ation in %ain ? .$ere 2 %er "ent of yo+n ad+ltsadmit to $avin do.nloaded %eerto%eer "ontent ? as a BM0s mar:et5 *$at is, t$eonly .ay to ma:e money in movies is .it$ a larerossin /o1 offi"e smas$5 *$e res+lt$as /een a "ri%%lin of %ain's $omero.n film and m+si" "+lt+re, relative to t$at ofot$er "o+ntries s+"$ as Rermany or o+t$ Qorea, .$i"$ $ave stroner la.s aainst%ira"y5 A+t many %eo%le /enefit from %ira"y, in all its forms, not >+st t$e %iratest$emselves5 It serve# the interests o% 1Gth cent$r! Enlishmen to see Bamaicat$rne# into a pirate o$tpostOnline am/lin in violation of lo"al la.s $assomet$in in "ommon .it$ %ira"y5 Pirates are not re*els aainst all or#er, in fa"t,the! o%ten #epen# on the patronae o% some po3er%$l %action in overnmentor *$siness5 omali %irate raids, for e1am%le, no. ta:e %la"e +% to B,000 milesoffs$ore, "loser to @ndia t$an to Hfri"a5 ome/ody $as to %ay for t$e %etrol and t$e .ee:sof rations, not to mention t$e RP soft.are5 '##l!. 3e 3ant to see pirates assomeho3 romantic or no*le5 *$e Canadian >o+rnalist and a+t$or 7ay Aa$ad+r notesin $is intimate /oo: a/o+t t$e .orld of @ndian O"ean %ira"y, Deadly Waters, t$at t$e

.ord for %irate in omali is /+r"ad /adeed or o"ean ro//er5 A+t .$en t$e pirates

t$emselves s%ea: to t$e international %ress, t$ey do so in t$e lan+ae of NROs5 *$eyspea6 o% over%ishin in the 3aters aro+nd t$e !orn of Hfri"a /y C$inese tra.lers,

.$i"$ destroyed omali liveli$oods, an# present their #epre#ations as aleitimate %orm o% taxation? a .ea: "ase, to %+t it mildly5
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dd1d5428-fb2d-11e0-8756-00144feab49a.html#axzz2JmmPYpDfhttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dd1d5428-fb2d-11e0-8756-00144feab49a.html#axzz2JmmPYpDfhttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dd1d5428-fb2d-11e0-8756-00144feab49a.html#axzz2JmmPYpDfhttp://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dd1d5428-fb2d-11e0-8756-00144feab49a.html#axzz2JmmPYpDf


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Pirac! is a $ni8$e impet$s %or capitalist #evelopment " it createsthe econom!-s ne3 territories

Ram#ani 1, . Bo$rnaliste Hconomi8$e et rH#ac+che% #e A$siness ,iest Do .e needPirates, A+siness Diest, B=BM=B3, $tt%9==...5/+sinessdiest5e+=en=20B3=0B=BM=do.eneed%irates=)

B5 Pirac! an# capitalism9 /et.een attra"tion and re%+lsion Ca%italism, .$i"$res%onds to t$e "on8+est of ne. territories, constantl! chanes %orm $n#er thepress$re o% external %orces that compel it to a#apt Ay 8+estionin $o. tatessee: to esta/lis$ mono%olies, the pirate oraniation %$nctions as one s$ch%orce. p$shin capitalism in ne3 #irections5 25 #a>or areas of modern %ira"yPirac! thrives 3here ne3l! explore# territor! #oes not !et have clearl!

#e%ine# *o$n#aries5 X *$e @nternet9 rom t$e /einnin, %irate orani;ations $ave%rotested at t$e national level aainst attem%ts to re+late t$e We/, .$i"$ t$ey %er"eiveas "ensors$i%5 X Aiote"$noloies9 some /io%ira"y orani;ations s+"$ as t$e Crai Venter

@nstit+te $ave anno+n"ed t$at t$ey %ossess t$e means to "reate and %atent ne. synt$eti"s%e"ies, t$ere/y flyin in t$e fa"e of overnmental norms5 X %a"e9 Hlt$o+$ noovernments are "+rrently see:in to a%%ro%riate o+ter s%a"e for t$emselves, t$e la+n"$of t$e first s%a"e mod+le in 20B0 /y t$e %rivate "om%any %a"eY raises 8+estions a/o+tt$e f+t+re frontiers of t$e "osmos5 35 W$y s$o+ld /+siness ta:e an interest in %irateorani;ations Pirates #isr$pt the r$les on o3nership rihts. there*!contri*$tin to the rise o% capitalism. an# the! provi#e insiht into possi*le#evelopments in economic rationale5 or e1am%le, internet $a":ers "onstantly%+s$ lare "om%anies to /e more innovative and so $el% to restri"t ram%ant %rofiteerinin t$e ne. e"onomy5 Per$a%s most sinifi"antly, pirates operate at the %rontlines o%capitalism, .$i"$ means t$at :ee%in a "loser eye on t$em .o+ld +ndo+/tedly $el%leaders to anti"i%ate some of t$e ma>or /rea:t$ro+$s of tomorro.5

)alt *isney #as a liar and so is the a+

)ilson,The So"iali!t eie3, --.

(;olin, The Socialist Review, Oriinal irate Material,$ Se%tem'er

+0, htt%:&&!o"iali!treie3*or*u2&+--&oriinal/%irate/material ,

a""e!!ed -&I&.0 'h7

)hat most of us kno# about pirates #e(e learned from )alt *isney "olo+rf+l "lot$es, .ooden les, 7o$nny De%% .it$ lots of eyeliner5 *$is ins%irin /oo: des"ri/es t$e reality5 @n a /rief

%eriod from around 171/ to 170 thousands of people became pirates !because it made their li(es moredemo"rati", humaneand sim%ly en>oya/le than

anythin" else on o+er% he Atlantic #as key to the de(elopment of

capitalism2+ro%ean %o.ers .ere "arvin +% t$e Sne. .orldS /et.een t$em, .arrin /et.een t$emselves over t$e

/ooty5 3ommodities like su"ar and tobacco made merchants rich%

4iolence and oppression #ere central to the Atlantic trade t.o and a $alfmillion Hfri"ans $ad /een enslaved and s$i%%ed a"ross t$e o"ean /y t$e B20s, many dyin in a%%allin "onditions on t$e

.ay5 he #hole system depended on deep!ocean ships , t$e ne.est te"$noloy of t$e
http://socialistreview.org.uk/288/original-pirate-materialhttp://socialistreview.org.uk/288/original-pirate-material


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time, and on the men #ho cre#ed them% 5uch men faced the risk of

death or serious in'ury from the sea ! hence the #ooden le" of the

stereotypical pirate ! but they also faced exploitation and (iolence

from ships captains% 6ood and drink #ere scarce and poor% )a"es

#erelo. or nonexistent% 5ome men #ere simply forced to #ork on

board ship% 6inally, ordinary sailors #ere at the bottom of ahierarchy, #hile captains slept in separate cabins and could #hip

men as close to death as they pleased% n"lish rulers had supported

pirates attackin" 5panish shipsand %orts ir ran"is Dra:e $ad /een t$is :ind of %irate a

$+ndred years earlier5 But in 171/ n"land a"reeda %ea"e treaty, $o%in to defeat 5pain

by trade rather than #ar% 8iracy #as outla#ed, /+t nlandSs "olonies .ere too /i anarea for t$e navy to "ontrol t$e Aa$amas .ere +ndefended, and $+ndreds of %irates esta/lis$ed a /ase t$ere5

8irates #eremostly poor and embitteredseamen5 5ome ships rose in mutiny

and became pirate ships5 Ot$er men /e"ame %irates .$en t$eir s$i% .as atta":ed pirates

#ould o+er e(ery sailor the chance to 'oin them% hey robbed other

ships, partly so they could sur(i(e, but not #ith any scheme of

becomin" rich ! if they couldnt use #hat they stole, they thre# it

a#ay%Fat$er t$an .ealt$ t$ey so+$t revene on t$eir r+lers, and a life of dinity and en>oyment5 Pirate s$i%s .ere%rofo+ndly demo"rati", dra.in on traditions datin /a": to t$e nlis$ Fevol+tion of t$e B640s and B6M0s5 Ca%tains.ere ele"ted at t$e start of a voyae, and $ad real a+t$ority only in /attle< t$e %artitions .$i"$ formed offi"ersS "a/ins

.ere torn do.n5 $any pirates #ere black ! more than half the cre# on some

ships% here are cases of #omen becomin" pirates, and liberal

attitudes to sexuality #ere common% 8irates #ould sometimes

pro(ide #elfare for each other, ivin money to a man in>+red at sea so $e "o+ld live de"ently on

land5 Buts+"$ lonterm res%onsi/ility .as rare5 he usual "oal #as a short life but a

merry one5 Wit$ rim $+mo+r, pirates in(erted all respectable ideas% hey

drank such toasts as 3urse the in" and all the :i"her 8o#ers%

hey 'oked about death, and boasted that they #ere "oin" to hell Samerrier %la"eS t$an $eaven5 On trial for %ira"y t$ey defended t$eir a"tions, ar+in it .as t$e only .ay t$ey "o+ld ma:e a

livin, or "oolly mo":ed t$e >+de5 enten"ed to $an for %ira"y, William ly s%o:e from t$e allo.s to a lare "ro.d,tellin "a%tains to %ay sailors t$eir .aes or ta:e as a .arnin $is m+rder of a "a%tain5 8irates often ble#

themsel(es up as a "roup rather than face capture% 8iracy stood in

the #ay of n"lish trade, particularly trade in sla(es, and t$e a+t$orities

res%onded .it$ a /lood/at$% Bet#een 1710 and 170 o(er .-- pirates #ere

han"ed, %er$a%s one in ten5 *$eir /odies .ere $+n o+tside %orts in "$ains as a .arnin to seamen tem%ted to

follo. t$eir e1am%le5 he "olden a"e of piracy #as o(er%


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4Race. Class. ?en#er5 Lin6

This triplet #ismisses class as merel! another %orm o% #i%%erence



@n statin t$is, .e need to in"l+de an im%ortant "aveat t$at differentiates o+r a%%roa"$from t$ose invo:in t$e .ell.orn ra"e="lass=ender tri%let .$i"$ "an so+nd, to t$e+ninitiated, /ot$ radi"al and va+ely #ar1ian5 @t is not5 Race. class an# en#er.

3hile the! invaria*l! intersect an# interact. are not co+primar!5 *$is &tri%let'a%%ro1imates .$at t$e &%$iloso%$ers mi$t "all a "ateory mista:e5' 'n the s$r%acethe triplet ma! *e convincin-some %eo%le are o%%ressed /e"a+se of t$eir ra"e,ot$ers as a res+lt of t$eir ender, yet ot$ers /e"a+se of t$eir "lass-*$t this 0is rossl!mislea#in- for it is not t$at &some individ+als manifest "ertain "$ara"teristi"s :no.nas "lass .$i"$ t$en res+lts in t$eir o%%ression< on t$e "ontrary, to /e a mem/er of aso"ial "lass >+st is to /e o%%ressed' and in t$is reard class is 0a 3holl! socialcateor!-(aleton, BE, %5 2E)5 +rt$ermore, even tho$h 0class- is $s$all!invo6e# as part o% theafore mentioned and m$ch va$nte# tript!ch. it is $s$all!$tte# o% its practical. social #imension or treate# solel! as a c$lt$ralphenomenon-as 9$st another %orm o% 0#i%%erence-@n t$ese instan"es, class istrans%orme#from an e"onomi" and, indeed, so"ial "ateory to an excl$sivel!c$lt$ral or #isc$rsiveone or one in .$i"$ "lass merely sinifies a &s$*9ectposition5' Class is there%ore c$t o%% %rom the political econom! o% capitalism

an#"lass %o.er severed from exploitationand a %o.er str+"t+re &in .$i"$ t$ose .$o"ontrol "olle"tively %rod+"ed reso+r"es only do so /e"a+se of t$e val+e enerated /yt$ose .$o do not' (!ennessy J @nra$am, B, %5 2)5


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S$staina*le ,evelopmentS$staina*le #evelopment entrenches the capitalist s!stemlea#in to more exploitation o% the environmentCastro. -;/.(Carlos 75, University of Oreon, +staina/le Develo%ment9

#ainstream and Criti"al Pers%e"tives, Orani;ation nvironment 2004< B< BM DO@9B05BB=B0E6026604264B0,$tt%9==oae5sae%+/5"om="i="ontent=a/stra"t=B=2=BM)==er

S$staina*le #evelopment is still a conteste# concept5 *$ere are rassroots ora ni;ationsand radi"al t$eorists .$o +se t$e "on"e%t in a root "riti8+e of t$e esta/ lis$ed order (#er"$ant, B2, %%5 2BB234)5 omeorani;ations o%eratin in t$e *$ird World are .or:in on iss+es of s+staina/le develo%ment from a %roressive

%ers%e"tive5 *$ese oraniations are tr!in to exercise social control over capital

$sin the concept o% s$staina*le #evelopment 5 !o.ever, s$staina*le

#evelopment is still larel! #e%ine# 3ithin the mainstream para#im o%#evelopment. 3hich ives primac! to the mar6et in allocatin reso$rces an#

theoreticall! ta6es acco$nt o% the environment onl! as a s$*si#iar! concern3hen p$rs$in its main o*9ect o% promotin economic ro3th *$e main

s$ort"omin of t$e mainstream a%%roa"$ to s$staina*le #evelopmentis t$at it is #riven *! therapi# acc$m$lation re8$irements o% the capitalist econ+ om!. 3hich means

that it is a*o$t s$stainin #evelopment rather than #evelopin s$staina*ilit!in t$e e"oloi"al sense5 *$e %riority is to ens+re t$at environmental "onditions are manaed so as to ens+re ma1im+mlonterm "a%ital a""+m+lation (.$i"$ ne"essitates ra%id e"onomi" ro.t$)5 @n t$is res%e"t, neo"lassi"al environ mentale"onomi"s ravitates to.ard a .ea: s+staina/ility $y%ot$esis at /est5 !ere it is ass+med t$at in most "ases, $+manmade"a%ital "an s+/stit+te for nat+ral "a% ital, so t$at in all /+t a fe. "ases, t$ere are no real limitations to e1%ansion im%osed

/y t$e environment5 Mar6et mechanisms can *e a#9$ste# to ens$re that environ+

mental %actors are ta6en acco$nt o%. 3ith no real alteration in the%$n#amental char+ acter o% the capitalist econom!5 ome more e"oloi"ally in"linede"onomists, s+"$ as Daly (BE, B6), $ave ar+ed t$at it is "on"eiva/le t$at "a%italism "o+ld in"or %orate a strons+staina/ility $y%ot$esis, ta:in into "onsideration and %reservin "riti"al nat+ral reso+r"es5 A+t t$is is not t$e em%$asisof t$e dominant a%%roa"$ to environmental e"onomi"s and for ood reason9 @t .o+ld re8+ire an enormo+sly "ostlytransformation of "a%italism, a transformation t$at is almost "ertainly /eyond t$e rea"$ of t$e system, and one t$at iso%%osed even in its initial ste%s at %resent (.itness t$e Qyoto Proto"ol) /y t$e vested interests5

S$staina*le #evelopment is capitalistJop3oo# et al -;.(Aill !o%.oodZ, #ary #ellor and Reoff O'Arien, +staina/leCities Fesear"$ @nstit+te, University of Nort$+m/ria, +staina/le Develo%ment9#a%%in Different H%%roa"$es, Wiley @nter"ien"e, 200M,$tt%9==...5s"ri/d5"om=do"=E03E03B=@ON4!o%.ood+sDev#a%%H%%roa"$es)==er

W$ile many "laim t$at s$staina*le #evelopment"$allenes t$e in"reased interation of t$e .orld in a"a%italist e"onomy dominated /y m+ltinationals (#iddleton et al5, B3< C$ristie and War/+rton, 200B), Ar+ndtland's

am*i$it! allo3s *$siness an# overnments to *e in %avo$r o% s$staina*ilit!3itho$t an! %$n#amental challene to their present co$rse. $sin

Ar$n#tlan#-s s$pport %or rapi# ro3th to 9$sti%! the phrase 0s$staina*le

ro3th-5 Fees (BE) %oints o+t t$at this allo3s capitalism to contin$e to p$t %or3ar#
http://oae.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/2/195)//erghttp://oae.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/2/195)//erg


24/65

economic ro3th as its 0morall! *an6r$pt sol$tion ' to %overty5 @f t$e e"onomy ro.s,

event+ ally all .ill /enefit (Dollar and Qraay, 2000)9 in modern %arlan"e t$e tri":ledo.n t$eory5 ,al! (1>>)criticie# the notion o% 0s$staina*le ro3th- as 0tho$ht+stoppin- an#ox!moronic in a 3orl# in 3hich ecos!stems are %inite5 Ht some %oint, e"onomi" ro.t$.it$ ever more +se of reso+r"es and %rod+"tion of .aste is +ns+staina/le5 @nstead Daly ar+ed for t$e term &s+staina/ledevelo%ment' /y .$i"$ $e, m+"$ more "learly t$an Ar+ndtland, meant 8+alitative, rat$er t$an 8+antitative,

im%rovements5 ,evelopment is open to con%$sion. 3ith some seein it as an en# initsel%. so it has *een s$este# that reater clarit! 3o$l# *e to spea6 o%0s$staina*le livelihoo#s-. 3hich is the aim that Ar$n#tlan# o$tline#(Wor:s$o% onUr/an +staina/ility, 2000)5


25/65

Eco%eminismFoc$sin on social %actors o% en#er an# ecolo! tra#e o% 3ith ananal!sis o% material %actors thro$ho$t time that constit$teen#er oppression

Mellor. o"ial "ien"e Professor at Nort$+m/ria University, Ne."astle +%on *yne UQand C$air of its +staina/le Cities Fesear"$ @nstit+te. :;;;

(#ary,Ethics and the Environment, eminism and nvironmental t$i"s9 H #aterialistPers%e"tive, Vol5 M No5 B, 2000, >stor, a""essed =2=B4 /$Kddi)

The #ilemma %or eco%eminism is that its t3o elements are in contra#iction toeach other &ltho$h %eminism has historicall! so$ht to explain an# overcome

3omen=s association 3ith the nat$ral. ecolo! is attemptin to re+em*e#

h$(man)it! in its nat$ral %rame3or6 Eco%eminismenerall! is incompati*le3ith=e8$al opport$nities.= li*eral 7e8$alit!7 h$manist %eminism. an# there are o*vio$s #aners %orthe e8$alities that (some) 3omen have achieve# in oin *ac6 to an association o% 3omen 3ith nat$re3hether it is on an a%%init!. social constr$ctionist. or materialist *asis From a #eep materialist anal!sis

it is not possi*le to see sex7en#er relations as entirel! sociall! constr$cte#

It is no acci#ent that 3omen 3ere associate# 3ith nat$re . it 3as not a mista6e orsome historical leac! as 2lrich Aec6 (1>>:) has ar$e# &s I 3ill ar$e here. an# have ar$e# else3here.

the association o% 3omen 3ith nat$re represents h$(man)it!=s nee# tocon%ront its o3n materialit!.its existence in ecoloical an# *io loical time (Mellor 1>>:a)The relationship is not a continent one. an acci#ent o% historical association. it is a str$ct$ral relation(Mellor 1>>@) J$(man)it! as a nat$ral species is em*o#ie# in its ph!sical *ein an# em*e##e# in itsnat$ral context Ecoloical time is the time %rame3or6 o% ecoloical rene3al an# o% ecoloical chane an#evol$tion J$(man)it! can inter%ere 3ith this to a lare extent. *$t rarel! 3itho$t conse8$ences in the

lon term.%or even the most privilee#. 3hile in the short term it is the least privilee#an# other species3ho s$%%er most Aioloical time is the li%e+c!cle an# rest7rene3al time+scale o%the h$man *ein The centralit! o% 3omen=s socioeconomic positionin this

relationship is her responsi*ilit! %or *ioloical time

Their %oc$s on the partic$larities o% %eminism inhi*its ahistorical anal!sis o% *roa#er class iss$es that constit$te thosepartic$lar oppressionsE*ert. P$5D5, University of #innesota in Criti"al and C+lt+ral *$eory andProfessor in !+manities at University of Hl/any, :;;

(*eresa I5,Science and Society, Femateriali;in eminism, 7an+ary 200M, Vol56 No5 B, >stor, a""essed =2=B4 /$Kddi)FEMINISMH*F *! PO* has *ecomein t$eory and %ra"ti"e larely in#i%%erent tomaterial practices+nder "a%italism s+"$ as la/or, .$i"$ s$a%es t$e so"ial str+"t+res of daily life an#

has %etishie# #i%%erence It has, in ot$er .ords, erase# the 8$estion o%


26/65

revival of a ne. %eminismt$+s re8$ires clearin o$t the $n#erro3th o% *o$reois

i#eolo! that$as limited t$e terms /y .$i"$ feminism $n#erstan#s the con#ition o%3omenH ne. (Fed) eminism, in s$ort, is not only "on"erned .it$ the e"ted/y mainstream feminism as too removed, too a/stra"t, too t$eoreti"al and, t$erefore, a form of e1"l+sion of .omen as

differen"e5 I #o not #en! #i%%erence5 @ sim%ly do not see differen"e as a+tonomo+s and immanent5 Fat$er, @+nderstand #i%%erenceas al3a!sand +ltimately #etermine# *! class #i%%erence t$at is, /yrelations of %ro%erty5


27/65

I, PTI#entit! politics %oc$s on a$tonomo$s oppression %ails to tracethe enealoies o% social po3er that constit$te oppressionsE*ert. P$5D5, University of #innesota in Criti"al and C+lt+ral *$eory and Professor in

!+manities at University of Hl/any, :;;(*eresa I5,Science and Society, Femateriali;in eminism, 7an+ary 200M, Vol5 6 No5B, >stor, a""essed =2=B4 /$Kddi)

I#entit! politicsis the latest %ormation o% the s$*9ect $n#er capitalism It mostl! provi#es themanaerial class(as it has come to *e calle# in *o$reois sociolo!)3ith a 3a! o%

$n#erstan#in itsel% that completel! *!passes class+ or i% it r$ns into class. it$n#erstan#s class in a neo+e*erian sense as li%e+chances in relation to the mar6et The manaerial

class (3hich is reall! a class %raction) #eplo!s i#entit! politicsto #e%ine itsel% in an i#ealist

%ashion that #oes not p$t press$re onor threaten the existin social relations o%la*or Even 3hen the 8$estion o% la*or cannot *e avoi#e#. %or example. in

#isc$ssions o% %eminism an# anti+racist str$les+ to ta6e t3o prominent %orms o%i#entit! politics + la*or *ecomes mostl! a 8$estion o%9o*s an# emplo!ment. that is to sa!. o%income(e.


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social #i%%erences onl! 3hen the! *ecome part o% the social #ivision o% la*or .

an# each has a lon an# #i%%erentiate# histor! as part o% the social #ivisiono% la*or an# th$s as a sini%icant social #i%%erenceRacism. contrar! to Fo$ca$l#iantheor!. is not simpl! a matter o% as!mmetrical po3er relations nor is en#er. or sex$alit! Jomo+

pho*ia is not simpl! oppression + the exercise o% po3er *! hetero+ sex$als over homosex$als ?a!*ashin ist$e arti"+lation of a violen"e. that is to sa!. the e%%ect o% po3er. *$t it cannot *e

$n#er+ stoo#in terms o% po3er3itho$t in8$irin into the enealo! o% po3erContrar! to poststr$ct$ralist theor!. po3er is not the e%%ect o% #isco$rsenor is it simpl! the

immanent con#ition o% all relations Po3er is the social an# political mani%estation o%the o3nership o% the means o% pro#$ctionIn other 3or#s. po3er is al3a!s enerate# atthe point o% pro#$ction. an# its e%%ects sho$l# also *e examine# in relation to the relations o% pro#$ctionRacism. in other 3or#s. is not simpl! oppression (the exercise o% po3er *! 3hites over *lac6s) sexism is

not simpl! oppression (the exercise o% po3er *! men over 3omen) It is tr$e that racism.sexism. an# homopho*ia are experience# *! the s$*9ect (e. &%rican+&merican.

3oman. les*ian) as e%%ects o% oppression an# po3er I% 3e limit o$r in8$ir! to thisexperiential level.3e3ill en# $psimpl!3ith ethnoraphies o% po3er. 3hichI thin6

3o$l# *e o%ver! limite# $seI%. ho3ever. 3e o *e!on# rear#in racism. sexism an#homopho*ia as simpl! e%%ects o% po3er to $n#erstan# ho3 po3er is #erive# %rom o3nership o% the

means o% pro#$ction. then 3e 3ill *e a*le to theorie relations o% class. en#er. race an# sex$al+ it! in amore historical an# materialist 3a! In this vie3. sexism. racism an# homopho*ia are notso m$ch instances o% oppression *$t cases o% exploitation This is another 3a! o%sa!in that a poststr$c+ t$ralist theor! o% the social as the site o% m$lti+oppression practices 3ill not lea#

to a pro#$ctive $n#erstan#in o% relations amon class. en#er. race an# sex$alit! The more

pro#$ctive 3a! is to place la*or relations an# their conse8$ences + propert!relations + at the center o% this complex net3or6 an# $n#erstan# en#er.sex$alit!. an# race as pro#$ce# *!the existin #ivision o% la*orD that is. as contra+ #ictionspro#$ce# *! the %$n#amental antaonism $n#er capitalism + the antaonism o% 3ae+la*or an# capital


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In#ieno$sTheir approach to the in#ieno$s %$rther alienates them %romthe class s!stems the! are a part o% " appl!in a Marxist #ialecticis critical to enen#erin an acc$rate in8$ir! o% 2S colonialism

Li*retti. 1 (*im, Hsso"iate Professor of nlis$ and WomenSs t+dies at Nort$eastern@llinois University5 !e $as %+/lis$ed arti"les on %roletarian literat+re, U55 *$ird Worldand m+ltiet$ni" literat+res, #ar1ism, and "+lt+ral st+dies in s+"$ >o+rnals as #IU,

WomenSs t+dies +arterly, and #ediations5200B,odern !iction Studies, Vol 4, No5B, *$e Ot$er Proletarians9 Native Hmeri"an Iiterat+re and Class tr+le, H)

St$#!in Native &merican literat$re as proletarian/ot$ e1%ands traditional

so"ioloi"al and t$emati" "onto+rs of t$e enre and also trans%orms its politics *!rethin6in an# #eepenin the materialist #ialectic thro$h an incorporationo% the historical experiences o% 3or6. exploitation. an# coloniation. as 3ell

as the class conscio$sness o% Native &mericans 3ho have rarel! *eenst$#ie# or $n#erstoo# as part o% 2S la*or histor!5 @n "allin into 8+estionstandard re%resentations t$at ma:e .ae la/or invisi/le in t$e "+lt+re $istories of Native

Hmeri"ans, Patri"ia Hl/ers $as ar+ed t$at Native %eo%les are denied a %la"e in mosta""o+nts of la/or $istory in t$e United tates and, even .$en %resent, 5 5 5 are releatedto a %assive /a":ro+nd %osition o+tside t$e flo. of determinative e"onomi" movementsand events (246)5 #oreover, m+"$ of t$e so"alled a+t$enti" .or: of Native

Hmeri"ans, s$e %oints o+t, tends to /e %er"e%t+ally isolated from ot$er f+n"tionins oft$e e"onomy and de$istori"i;ed, treated in leendary terms as %art of a timeless, sa"redtradition and an"ient lore, 5 5 5 sit+ated in a %o%+lar %lay of myt$i" imaes rat$er t$anin a %roression of a"t+al $istori" events (24E)5 This isolation an# invisi*ilit! o%Native &merican la*or has alsond Pae B6M*een %$rthere# *! a narro3.even o*sessive. %oc$s on the lan# 8$estion as the overri#in i% not soleeconomic concern o% Native &mericans5 Hs #art$a Qna": and Hli"e Iittlefieldadmonis$,Hnot$er "a+se of s"$olarly silen"e a/o+t @ndian la/or $as /een t$e restri"tivedefinition of Native Hmeri"an e"onomi"s as an iss+e of nat+ral reso+r"es, s%e"ifi"allyland5 Hlt$o+$ t$e .$olesale dis%ossession of land from t$e first Hmeri"ans is adramati", visi/le, and emotionally %o.erf+l iss+e, and one t$at $as reat stratei"im%ortan"e to indieno+s %eo%les in t$eir "laims for %oliti"al sovereinty and finan"ialredress, it s$o+ld not /e allo.ed to o/s"+re anot$er reso+r"e t$at @ndians %ossessed and

non@ndians "ame rad+ally to "ontrolt$eir la/or5 (4) Understandin t$e %roletariandimensions of t$e Native Hmeri"an e1%erien"e, Qna": and Iittlefield "on"l+de, meanst$at %er$a%s .e need to re"onsider .$at .e mean /y %roletarian (2E)5 Fet$in:in t$eso"ioloi"al "om%osition of t$e .or:in "lass also entails re"on"e%t+ali;in t$e "or%+s ofliterary .or:s t$at "om%rise t$e enre of %roletarian literat+re, a enre .e m+st t$eori;eas $istori"al and fl+id %re"isely /e"a+se it is lin:ed to t$e $istori"al "ateory of t$e

.or:in "lass, t$e "onto+rs and "om%osition of .$i"$ are "onstantly "$anin inres%onse to t$e %ro"esses of "lass formation and e"onomi" develo%ment5


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Comprehen#in the Native &merican 3or6in+class experience provi#es a

more complex $n#erstan#in o% not onl! the ver! concepts o% class an# class%ormation in the 2nite# States. *$t more speci%icall! o% the role o% enoci#e

an# coloniation in the %ormation an# contin$ation o% the 2S as a racial.patriarchal. an# capitalist nation+state5 Native Hmeri"ans "onstit+te a +ni8+ese"tor of t$e U55 .or:in "lass, alt$o+$, as noted a/ove, t$ey are not often re"oni;edas s+"$5 H""ordinly, t$e literat+re $i$li$ts t$e s%e"ifi" interests of Native

&mericansnot only .it$ reard to t$e land 8+estion /+t, %er$a%s more im%ortantly,.it$ t$e #esire %or a nonalienate# la*or an# a #isalienate# relationship to thelan#..$i"$ isim%li"it in, t$o+$ not $s$all! $n#erstoo# as part o%, the #esire%or an# #eman# o% a ret$rn o% the lan#5 #oreover, as Native Hmeri"an .riters s+"$as Ieslie #armon il:o and imon Orti; s"ri%t master narratives of li/eration res%onsiveto t$e Native Hmeri"an e1%erien"e, nd Pae B66 t$ey are also ma%%in more "om%le1master narratives of "lass str+le and of li/eration from lo/al "a%italism52n#erstan#in Native &merican literat$re as a 3or6in+class literat$reenen#ers a more complex Marxism. one that is more comprehensive o% an#responsive to the operations o% 2S capitalism in its imperialist an# internal

colonial practices5 *$e res+lt is a %roletarian literary "ateory t$at more a""+rately"om%re$ends t$e m+lti%le and varied se"tors of t$e U55 .or:in "lass and t$+s, /ye1tension, a dee%ened, more $istori"al #ar1ism5

e m$st $n#erstan# Native &mericans as proletarians " theiranal!sis ren#ers invisi*le the set o% historical relations thatin%orme# re# enoci#e

Li*retti. 1 (*im, Hsso"iate Professor of nlis$ and WomenSs t+dies at Nort$eastern

@llinois University5 !e $as %+/lis$ed arti"les on %roletarian literat+re, U55 *$ird Worldand m+ltiet$ni" literat+res, #ar1ism, and "+lt+ral st+dies in s+"$ >o+rnals as #IU,

WomenSs t+dies +arterly, and #ediations5200B,odern !iction Studies, Vol 4, No5B, *$e Ot$er Proletarians9 Native Hmeri"an Iiterat+re and Class tr+le, H)

*$is ri"$ %assae raises many %oints for dis"+ssion in terms of $o. Orti; "onstr+"ts "lass "ons"io+sness and $o. t$is te1tand $is .ritin as a .$ole relate to and redefine t$e "onto+rs and %oliti"s of t$e %roletarian nd Pae BE0 literary enre5Orti; $ere is assertin t$e %rivileed $istori"al, e"onomi", and so"ial %osition, as .ell as t$e %rivileed %ers%e"tive of t$eNative Hmeri"an in t$e $istori"al develo%ment and "ontem%orary so"iety of U55 "a%italism5 7+st as I+:a"s in !istory andClass Cons"io+sness ar+es t$at t$e s+%eriority of t$e %roletariat m+st lie e1"l+sively in its a/ility to see so"iety from t$e"enter, as a "o$erent .$ole (6), Orti; effe"tively s+ests t$at Native Hmeri"ans o""+%y a more "entral %osition inso"iety from .$i"$ to "om%re$end it as a "o$erent .$ole5 !o.ever, .$ile I+:a"s ar+es t$at t$e self+nderstandin of

t$e %roletariat is 5 5 5 sim+ltaneo+sly t$e o/>e"tive +nderstandin of t$e nat+re of so"iety and t$at .$en t$e %roletariatf+rt$ers its o.n "lassaims it sim+ltaneo+sly a"$ieves t$e "ons"io+s reali;ation of t$eo/>e"tiveaims of so"iety, aims.$i"$ .o+ld inevita/ly remain a/stra"t %ossi/ilities and o/>e"tive frontiers /+t for t$is "ons"io+s intervention (B4),

'rti represents Native &mericans= sel%+$n#erstan#in as !iel#in a moreacc$rate an# insiht%$l vision o% the tra9ector! o% social histor! *eca$se the!

are most imme#iatel! threatene# an# a%%ecte# *! the historical #evelopmento% capitalism5 irst in line for eno"ide, t$ey are first to +nderstand t$ro+$ e1%erien"e t$e o%erations and aims ofo+r "+rrent "o+rse of $istori"al develo%ment5 *$+s t$ey o""+%y t$e most advantaeo+s %osition from .$i"$ /ot$ toa"$ieve a f+ll "ons"io+sness of U55 "a%italism and to intervene "ons"io+sly in redire"tin $istori"al develo%ment5Conse8+ently, Orti; means to /rin t$e e1ien"y of s+rvival to t$e forefront of %oliti"al and "lass "ons"io+sness,


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s+estin t$at3hile Native &mericans are most $rentl! conscio$s o% the tas6 o%

s$rvival. it nee#s to *e a larer 3or6in+class iss$e< it needs to /e t$e %remise of t$e "lass

str+le itself to %rioriti;e s+rvival /y ma:in lands %rod+"tive to serve $+manity5 !o.ever, 'rti.arns t$at s+"$ aoal .ill ta:e real de"isions and a"tions and "on"rete +nderstandin /y t$e %oor and .or:ers of t$is nation (360)5*$e

a/ove %assae also hihlihts the importance o% $n#erstan#in Native &mericansas a #!namic part o% the 2S proletariat an# o% 2S la*or histor!5 @n t$e te1t as a

.$ole, Orti; .orries a/o+t t$e %reservation of Native Hmeri"an "+lt+re in m+se+ms and state %ar:s t$at tend to$y%ostati;e Native Hmeri"ans as reli"s of $istory rat$er t$an as $istori"al and "ontem%orary %arti"i%ants in U55 so"ietyand e"onomy5 *$e .orry is t$at Native Hmeri"ans .ill /e isolated in nat+ral .ilderness or nd Pae BEB "+lt+ral %ar:s(360) and t$+s releated to t$e marins instead of re"oni;ed as t$e "enter of so"ial "$ane and "lass "ons"io+sness t$at

Orti; /elieves t$ey need to /e5 The other sectors o% the 3or6in class nee# to$n#erstan# the enoci#e an# exploitation o% Native &mericans i% the! are

oin to $n#erstan# comprehensivel! the operations o% 2S capitalism, t$e%at$ of t$eir en+ine selfinterest .it$in t$at system, and t$e fate t$at a.aits t$em if t$ey do no a"t to redire"t t$e "o+rseof $istory /y learnin from and follo.in t$e lead of Native Hmeri"ans5 @t is $ere t$at Orti; ma:es $is most %assionate%lea, one .ort$ 8+otin at lent$9*$ey .ill $ave to see t$at t$e %resent e1%loitation of "oal at Ala": #esa #ine inHri;ona does not serve t$e !o%i and Nava>o .$ose $omeland it is5 *$ey .ill $ave to +nderstand t$at t$e %oliti"al ande"onomi" for"es .$i"$ $ave "a+sed !o%i and Nava>o %eo%le to /e in "onfli"t .it$ ea"$ ot$er and .it$in t$eir o.n nationsare t$e same for"es .$i"$ steal t$e $+man fa/ri" of t$eir o.n "omm+nities and lives5 *$ey .ill $ave to /e .illin toidentify "a%italism for .$at it is, t$at it is destr+"tive and +n"om%assionate and de"e%tive5 *$ey .ill $ave to /e .illin todo so or t$ey .ill never +nderstand .$y t$e o+r Corners %o.er %lants in nort$.estern Ne. #e1i"o "ontin+e to s%e.%oisons into t$e air, destroyin %lant, animal, and $+man life in t$e area5 *$ey .ill $ave to /e .illin to fa"e and "$allenet$e "or%orations at t$eir armed /an: /+ildins, t$eir sto": /ro:ers, and t$eir drillin, minin, millin, refinin and%ro"essin o%erations5 @f t$ey donSt do t$at, t$ey .ill not +nderstand .$at Ha"8+ and $er sister P+e/los in t$e o+t$.estare fi$tin for .$en t$ey see: time and time aain to /rin attention to t$eir str+le for land, .ater, and $+man ri$ts5*$e Hmeri"an %oor and .or:ers and .$ite middle "lass, .$o are %ro/a/ly t$e most inorant of all U55 "iti;ens, m+st+nderstand $o. t$ey, li:e @ndian %eo%le, are for"ed to serve a national interest, "ontrolled /y "a%italist vested interests in"oll+sion .it$ U55 %oli"y ma:ers, .$i"$ does not serve t$em5 Only .$en t$is +nderstandin is attained and de"isions arerea"$ed and a"tions ta:en to over"ome e"onomi" and %oliti"al o%%ression im%osed on +s all .ill t$ere /e no loner anational sa"rifi"e area in t$e o+t$.est5 Only t$en .ill t$ere nd Pae BE2 /e no more +nne"essary sa"rifi"es of o+r%eo%le and land5 (3606B)@n t$is "atalo of .$at t$e Hmeri"an %oor and .or:in "lass need to see, +nderstand, and dom+"$ of .$i"$ entails fa"in and "om%re$endin t$e %arti"+lar e1%loitation and "oloni;ed stat+s of Native Hmeri"ansOrti; is s+estin t$at Native Hmeri"an "lass "ons"io+sness and %oliti"al selfinterests are not only identi"al to t$ose oft$e nonNative Hmeri"an .or:in "lass and %oor /+t t$at, even more so, t$ey are definitive of "lass "ons"io+sness and.or:in"lass %oliti"al interests5 @f t$ey do not +nderstand t$e Native Hmeri"an sit+ation, t$ey .ill not +nderstand t$esame for"es .$i"$ steal t$e $+man fa/ri" of t$eir o.n Hmeri"an "omm+nities and lives5 *$is same re"onition is e8+ally

"r+"ial in t$e literary "riti"al s%$ere .$en .e attem%t to ma% t$e "oordinates of a enre of %roletarian literat+re as s+"$ aenre /e"omes t$e "+lt+ral re%resentation and mo+t$%ie"e of t$e U55 .or:in "lass and its interests5 To

marinalie Native &merican literat$re or cateorie it 3holl! apart %roman# excl$sive o% proletarian literat$re re+enacts the same est$re o% ma6in

invisi*le the Native &merican 3or6in class. o% isolatin it %rom the scene o%3ae la*or#oreover,3hat is also ren#ere# invisi*le *! o*sc$rin thehistorical experience o% Native &mericans. their 3or6in+class experience.

an# their narrative o% s$rvival an# class str$le. is the historical memor! o%an $nalienate# relationship 3ith the lan# We $ave already seen Orti; re%resent %re"olonialmoments in .$i"$ t$e Ha"8+Ss lives .ere des"ri/ed as ones of material .ell /ein and s%irit+al interity5 W$ile $isnarrative of "oloni;ation re%resents t$eir ro.in de%enden"e on .ae la/or and t$eir eneral de%enden"e +nder"a%italism /e"a+se of t$e dimin+tion of t$eir a""ess to nat+ral reso+r"es "a+sed in %art /y t$eir dis%ossession and in %art/y ind+strial "a%italismSs destr+"tion of t$ose reso+r"es, Orti; also $i$li$ts t$at .$at remains t$ro+$ oral $istory is a

memory of an a"t+al "+lt+re or .ay of life "$ara"teri;ed not /y alienation /+t /y interity .it$ nat+re, oneself, and ot$ers5Orti; .rites,@ donSt :no. .$en it .as t$at t$e rass .as as $i$ as a manSs .aist5 @ never :ne. t$at5 Hll my life, t$e rass$ad /een s%arse and /rittle5 Hll my life, t$e .inters $ave /een "old and .indy nd Pae BE3 and t$e s+mmers $ot andmostly rainless5 A+t t$e %eo%le tal: a/o+t t$ose ood years .$en t$ey "o+ld "o%e .it$ life on t$eir o.n terms5 *$e .inters.ere al.ays "old and t$e s+mmers $ot, /+t t$ey "o+ld "o%e .it$ t$em /e"a+se t$ere .as a system of life .$i"$ s%elled o+te1a"tly $o. to deal .it$ t$e realities t$ey :ne.5 *$e %eo%le $ad develo%ed a system of :no.lede .$i"$ made it %ossi/lefor t$em to .or: at sol+tions5 Hnd t$ey $ad t$e "a%a/ilities of develo%in f+rt$er :no.lede to deal .it$ ne. realities5

*$ere .as %ro/a/ly not anyt$in t$ey "o+ld not deal %ro%erly and ade8+ately .it$ +ntil t$e #eri"ano "ame5 (34)Thephenomenon 'rti #escri*es here is the eneral des:illin of t$e $+man, of t$ealienation that capitalism in%licts in its 3ill to #ominate!ere Orti; de%i"ts aain, it is


32/65

.ort$ reiteratin, t$e .ay "a%italism "+rtails rat$er t$an en$an"es %rod+"tive effi"ien"y as $e re%resents $o. t$e"oloni;in %ro"ess $o//led t$e %eo%le, made t$em de%endent rat$er t$an selfs+ffi"ient, and ro//ed t$em of t$eir "reativea/ilities and s:ills5A+t .$at is %er$a%s most stri:in a/o+t t$e narrative is t$at Orti; re%resents an a"t+al +sea/le %astt$at is not sim%ly a +to%ian invention /+t rat$er a via/le $istori"al model5 *$e im%ortan"e of Orti;Ss identifi"ation of t$is$istori"al a"t+ality is t$at it "$allenes t$ose "riti"s .$o see #ar1ismSs ideal of a "+lt+re of disalienation, in .$i"$ ea"$%erson reali;es $er s%e"ies /ein, as not only +nattaina/le /+t also as never $avin /een attained, as $istori"ally fantasti"5*a:e, for e1am%le, te%$en Rreen/lattSs "riti"ism of a %assae from *$e Politi"al Un"ons"io+s in .$i"$ redri" 7amesons%ea:s to t$e %ro"ess .$ere/y "a%italism diminis$es t$e +nalienated individ+al s+/>e"t in its %rod+"tion of t$e

framented /o+reois individ+al5 Rreen/latt .rites,*$e .$ole %assae $as t$e resonan"e of an alleory of t$e fall ofman9 on"e .e .ere .$ole, aile, interated< .e .ere individ+al s+/>e"ts /+t not individ+als, .e $ad no %sy"$oloy distin"tfrom t$e s$ared life of t$e so"iety< %oliti" and %oetry .ere one5 *$en "a%italism arose and s$attered t$is l+mino+s, /enintotality5 *$e myt$ e"$oes t$ro+$o+t 7amesonSs /oo:, t$o+$ /y t$e "lose it $as /een es"$atoloi"ally reoriented so t$att$e totality lies not in a %ast revealed to $ave al.ays nd Pae BE4 already fallen /+t in t$e "lassless f+t+re5 H%$iloso%$i"al "laim t$at a%%eals to an a/sent em%iri"al event5 (3)W$ile Rreen/latt no do+/t $as a %ointit is "ertainlydiffi"+lt to attri/+te alienation solely to t$e onset of "a%italism, as t$o+$ some$o. fe+dal and slave e"onomies feat+red.$ole and $a%%y individ+al s+/>e"ts$is o.n sense of t$e %ast is e8+ally distorted, at least in li$t of Orti;Ss narrative5Nonet$eless, Rreen/lattSs "riti"ism is one "ommonly $a+led o+t to attem%t to +ndermine t$e leitima"y of #ar1istt$eories of $+man nat+re and li/eration5 *$+s, Orti;Ss identifi"ation of t$is $istori"al moment of interation, as o%%osedto alienation, serves not only to "$allene t$e "yni"al /o+reois "riti"s of #ar1ism /+t, %er$a%s even more im%ortantly, to

ive t$e #ar1ist tradition a model of %ossi/ility on .$i"$ to /+ild and imaine a %ost"a%italist "+lt+re5 To #istanceor isolate Native &mericans %rom the 2S 3or6in classand t$eir literat+re from t$e

larer %roletarian tradition is to impoverish an#. reall!. to #isempo3er the 2S

3or6in class/y "+ttin it off from t$is model of %ossi/ility t$at o+$t to inform "lass str+le5@ndeed, as Orti;stren+o+sly ar+es t$ro+$o+t t$e %ie"e, it isthe con#ition o% alienation from o+rselves, nat+re, and ot$er%eo%le t$at most serio+sly nee#s to *e a##resse#. as alienation is the premise o%

exploitation an# the #estr$ctive %eat$res o% capitalism Native &mericanspossess most vivi#l! the collective memor! o% $nalienate# li%e, as o%%osed to mostelements of t$e U55 .or:in "lass .$ose memory is "onfined to a "a%italist .orld and an e1%erien"e of .ae la/or, .$i"$mi$t e1%lain .$y so m+"$ enery in la/or str+les fo"+ses on .aes rat$er t$an fo"+sin more "on"ertedly onalienation and on t$e +se of reso+r"es5Native Hmeri"ans are /est %ositioned to assess t$e e1%erien"e of alienation +nder"a%italism, Orti; s+ests, /e"a+se t$ey $ave not >+st an imaination /+t also an $istori"al :no.lede of a different modeof %rod+"tion, "+lt+re, and .ay of life, as .e see in t$e follo.in %assae in .$i"$ Orti; dis"+sses t$e e1%erien"es ofIa+na and Nava>o miners .or:in for t$e Qerr#"Ree mines in Ne. #e1i"o9*$e Nava>o men .$o .ent into t$e+nderro+nd mines did not $ave m+"$ "$oi"e e1"e%t to .or: t$ere, >+st li:e t$e Ia+na miners .$o find t$emselves ass+rfa"e la/or and semis:illed nd Pae BEM .or:ers5 *$e Qerr#"Ree miners .$o $ad stayed for any lent$ of time+nderro+nd /reat$in t$e d+st laden .it$ radon as .o+ld find t$emselves "an"ero+s5 *$e Ia+na miners .o+ld find

t$emselves 8+estionin $o. m+"$ real val+e t$e minin o%eration $ad .$en t$eir land .as overt+rned into a ray %itmiles and miles in /readt$5 *$ey .o+ld as: if t$e .aes t$ey earned, "a+sin .ae in"ome de%enden"y, and t$e royaltiesre"eived /y t$e Qa.ai:a$ %eo%le .ere .ort$ it .$en #eri"ano val+es /eset t$eir "$ildren and .o+ld t$reaten t$e $eritaet$ey $ad str+led to :ee% for so lon5 (3M6)*$e Ia+na miners are a/le to meas+re t$eir val+e system and t$e so"ialrelations$i%s it entails aainst t$at of "a%italism and its destr+"tive, even m+rdero+s, effe"ts on t$e land and t$e %eo%le5On"e aain, Orti; "o+nter%oints t.o modes of "on"e%t+ali;in val+e, em/odied in one "+lt+re t$at %rioriti;es 8+ality oflife and in anot$er 8+antitatively oriented "+lt+re "ommitted to a""+m+latin monetary .ealt$ at t$e e1%ense of life5 *$eim%ortan"e $ere, t$o+$, is t$at t$e Native Hmeri"an .or:in "lass already %ossesses t$e val+e system for as .ell as t$ememory and imaination of a %ost"a%italist "+lt+re t$at t$e nonNative Hmeri"an U55 .or:in "lass needs to re"oni;e asa val+a/le and "r+"ial attri/+te of its tradition of resistan"e to "a%ital and its as%irations of so"ial transformation5imilarly, Orti; also s%ea:s of t$e memory of t$e Pe+/lo Fevolt of B6E0 in .$i"$ enslaved Hfri"ans, native Hmeri"ans, anddes"endants of t$e C$i"ano %eo%le fo+$t /a": aainst %anis$ "olonialism5 *$is e1am%le of m+ltira"ial orani;in andresistan"e is $i$li$ted as a "entral element of t$e "olle"tive memory of em%o.erment and "$ane5 @t is >+st s+"$ modelsof revolt t$at t$e U55 .or:in "lass needs as %art of its $istori"al and "lass "ons"io+sness, .$i"$ it needs to /e atta"$ed toand not disso"iated from5A+t yet .$en "riti"s narro.ly %eriodi;e and restri"tively define t$e "ateory of %roletarianliterat+re, it is >+st s+"$ disso"iation and eras+re t$at ta:es %la"e5 @n develo%in a #ar1ist "+lt+ral tradition on t$e Ieft

t$at is "a%a/le of dire"tin and imainin f+ll li/eration, .e m+st "onstr+"t a %ro%er %roletarian literat+re enre .$i"$ma%s "om%re$ensively t$e /ody of te1ts t$at are e1%ressions of "lass str+le and .$i"$ mediates t$e so"ioloi"al and t$e"+lt+ral in a .ay t$at allo.s +s to dra. on t$e .$ole ri"$ "olle"tive tradition of .or:in "lass str+le nd Pae BE6

aainst ra"ial %atriar"$al "a%italism5 2n#erstan#in Native &merican literat$re asproletarian *eins this process o% politicaland literary reoraniation5 Aot$ il:o andOrti; offer ret$in:ins of #ar1ism and "lass str+le t$at %osition Native Hmeri"ans as %ivotal a"tants and NativeHmeri"an "+lt+re and $istory as a ri"$ reservoir of models for imainin "$ane as .ell as %ost"a%italist "+lt+re ande"onomy5 Aot$ "+lt+rally and %oliti"ally, t$e Ieft needs to revivify its "+lt+ral imainary and not disso"iate /y virt+e of itse1"l+sive "+lt+ral and %oliti"al "ateories from %oliti"al and "+lt+ral traditions t$at offer meaninf+l "rossfertili;ation5@ndeed, >+st as #ar1 said t$e ed+"ators m+st /e ed+"ated, so t$e Ieft m+st /e ed+"ated /y ot$er left #ar1ist traditions itmi$t not $ave even re"oni;ed as s+"$5 Hs Ward C$+r"$ill admonis$es, .$en yo+ t$in: a/o+t Native Hmeri"an %oliti"al


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"on"erns over s+"$ iss+es as land and .ater ri$ts,*$e reat mass of non@ndians in Nort$ Hmeri"a really $ave m+"$ toain, and almost not$in to lose, from t$e s+""ess of native %eo%le in str+les to re"laim t$e land .$i"$ is ri$tf+lly o+rs5*$e tani/le diminis$ment of U55 material %o.er .$i"$ is interal to o+r vi"tories in t$is s%$ere stands to %ave t$e .ayfor reali;ation of most ot$er aendasfrom antiim%erialism to environmentalism, from Hfri"anHmeri"an li/eration tofeminism, from ay ri$ts to t$e endin of "lass %rivilee%+rs+ed /y %roressives on t$is "ontinent5 Conversely,s+""eedin .it$ any or even all t$ese ot$er aendas .o+ld still re%resent an in$erently o%%ressive sit+ation if t$eirreali;ation is "ontinent +%on an onoin o""+%ation of Native Nort$ Hmeri"a .it$o+t t$e "onsent of @ndian %eo%le5 HnyNort$ Hmeri"an revol+tion .$i"$ failed to free indieno+s territory from non@ndian domination .o+ld sim%ly /e a

"ontin+ation of "olonialism in anot$er form5 (EE) @ndeed, >+st as #ar1 t$eori;es t$at the 3or6in class isthe l!nchpin o% li*eration *eca$se in or#er to li*erate itsel% it m$st #o a3a!

3ith class altoether, .e "an ta:e C$+r"$ill $ere, as .ell as il:o and Orti;, to /e in some sense sayin t$at fort$e non@ndian U55 .or:in "lass to li/erate itself, Native Hmeri"ans m+st /e li/erated5 P+t anot$er .ay, t$e .or:in"lass "annot li/erate only %art of itself, so it m+st identify and +nderstand nd Pae BE itself f+lly in order to li/erateitself f+lly5 #a%%in t$is +nderstandin via t$e s%a"e of a %roletarian literary enre is a %la"e to /ein5


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Jei#eer3ounter narrati(e to bein" that Bennett #anted to cut

$arx and n"els, 1;.;

(Karl Mar and #rederi"2 Enel!, The Communist Manifesto, 8ree

and u'iJuitou!, 'h7

he history of all hitherto existin" society is the history of class

stru""les% #reeman and !lae, %atri"ian and %le'eian, lord and !er8, uild/ma!ter(I7 and ?ourne)man, in a 3ord,

oppressor and oppressed, stood in constant opposition to one

another, "arried on an uninterru%ted, no3 hidden, no3 o%en >ht, a "ht that each time ended,

either in a re(olutionary reconstitution of society at lar"e, or in the

common ruin of the contendin" classes%Fn the earlier e%o"h! o8 hi!tor), 3e >nd almo!t eer)3herea "om%li"ated arranement o8 !o"iet) into ariou! order!, a mani8old radation o8 !o"ial ran2* Fn an"ient ome 3e hae %atri"ian!, 2niht!,

%le'eian!, !lae! in the Middle Ae!, 8eudal lord!, a!!al!, uild/ma!ter!, ?ourne)men, a%%renti"e!, !er8! in almo!t all o8 the!e "la!!e!, aain,

!u'ordinate radation!* hemodern bour"eois societythat ha! !%routed 8rom the ruin! o8 8eudal !o"iet) has

not done a#ay #ith class anta"onisms% &t has but established ne#

classes, ne# conditions of oppression, ne# forms of stru""le inplace of the old ones% Our e%o"h, the epoch of the bour"eoisie, %o!!e!!e!, ho3eer,

thi! di!tin"t 8eature: it has simplied class anta"onisms* So"iet) a! a 3hole i! more and more !%littin u%

into t3o reat ho!tile "am%!, into t#o "reat classes directly facin" each other

Bour"eoisie and 8roletariat% #rom the !er8! o8 the Middle Ae! !%ran the "hartered 'urher! o8 the earlie!t

to3n!* #rom the!e 'ure!!e! the >r!t element! o8 the 'oureoi!ie 3ere deelo%ed* he disco(ery of America, the

roundin o8 the ;a%e, openedu% fresh "round for the risin" bour"eoisie%The Ea!t/Fndianand ;hine!e mar2et!, the "oloni!ation o8 Ameri"a, trade 3ith the "olonie!, the in"rea!e in the mean! o8 e"hane and in "ommoditie!

enerall), ae to "ommer"e, to naiation, to indu!tr), an im%ul!e neer 'e8ore 2no3n, and there'), to the reolutionar) element in the

totterin 8eudal !o"iet), a ra%id deelo%ment* The 8eudal !)!tem o8 indu!tr), in 3hi"h indu!trial %rodu"tion 3a! mono%oli!ed ') "lo!ed uild!,

no3 no loner !u"ed 8or the ro3in 3ant! o8 the ne3 mar2et!* The manu8a"turin !)!tem too2 it! %la"e* The uild/ma!ter! 3ere %u!hed on

one !ide ') the manu8a"turin middle "la!! dii!ion o8 la'our 'et3een the di@erent "or%orate uild! ani!hed in the 8a"e o8 dii!ion o8 la'our

in ea"h !inle 3or2!ho%* Meantime the markets kept e(er "ro#in", the demand e(er

risin"% (en manufacturer no lon"er su


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and political illusions, it has substituted na2ed, !hamele!!, dire"t, 'rutal exploitation*

The 'oureoi!ie ha! !tri%%ed o8 it! halo eer) o""u%ation hitherto honoured and loo2ed u% to 3ith reerent a3e* &t has

con(erted the physician, the la#yer, the priest, the poet , the man o8 !"ien"e,

into its paid #a"e labourers*


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:NC Aloc6s


37/65

External ImpactCap ca$ses extinction " n$clear 3ar. environmental #estr$ction.an# social ine8$alit!

Aro3n. ; (C$arles, Professor of "onomi"s and Fesear"$ "ientist at t$e University of#i"$ian, 0M=B3=200M,$tt%9==ar"$ives5e"on5+ta$5ed+=ar"$ives=%enl=200M.BM=ms000625$tm)

*$e "a%italist "lass o.ns t$e fa"tories, t$e /an:s, and trans%ortationt$e means of %rod+"tion and distri/+tion5 Wor:ers

sell t$eir a/ility to .or: in order to a"8+ire t$e ne"essities of life5 Ca%italists /+y t$e .or:ersS la/or, /+t only%ay t$em /a": a %ortion of t$e .ealt$ t$ey "reate5 Ae"a+se t$e "a%italists o.n t$e means of %rod+"tion, t$eyare a/le to :ee% t$e s+r%l+s .ealt$ "reated /y .or:ers a/ove and /eyond t$e "ost of %ayin

.or:erSs .aes and ot$er "osts of %rod+"tion5 *$is s+r%l+s is "alled %rofit and "onsists of +n%aid la/ort$at t$e "a%italists a%%ro%riate and +se to a"$ieve everreater %rofits5 *$ese %rofits are t+rned into "a%ital .$i"$"a%italists +se to f+rt$er e1%loit t$e %rod+"ers of all .ealt$t$e .or:in "lass5 Ca%italists are "om%elled /y "om%etition tosee: to ma1imi;e %rofits5 *$e "a%italist "lass as a .$ole "an do t$at only /y e1tra"tin a reater s+r%l+s from t$e +n%aid

la/or of .or:ers /y in"reasin e1%loitation5 Under "a%italism, e"onomi" develo%ment $a%%ens onlyif it is %rofita/le to t$e individ+al "a%italists , not for any so"ial need or ood5 *$e %rofitdrive is in$erent in "a%italism, and +nderlies or exacer*ates all ma9or social ills o% o$rtimes5 Wit$ t$e ra%id advan"e of te"$noloy and %rod+"tivity, ne. forms of "a%italist o.ners$i% $ave develo%ed toma1imi;e %rofit5 *$e .or:in %eo%le of o+r "o+ntry "onfront serio+s, "$roni" %ro/lems /e"a+se of "a%italism5 *$ese

"$roni" %ro/lems /e"ome %art of t$e o/>e"tive "onditions t$at "onfront ea"$ ne. eneration of .or:in %eo%le5 The

threat o% n$clear 3ar . 3hich can #estro! all h$manit!. ro3s .it$ t$e s%read ofn+"lear .ea%ons, s%a"e/ased .ea%onry, and a military do"trine t$at >+stifies t$eir +se in %reem%tive .ars and .ars.it$o+t end5 ver sin"e t$e end of World War @@, t$e U55 $as /een "onstantly involved in aressive military a"tions /iand small5 *$ese .ars $ave "ost millions of lives and "as+alties, $+e material losses, as .ell as trillions of U55 ta1%ayer

dollars5 *$reats to t$e environment "ontin+e to spiral. threatenin all li%e on o$rplanet5 #illions of .or:ers are +nem%loyed or inse"+re in t$eir >o/s, even d+rin e"onomi" +%s.ins and %eriods of

re"overy from re"essions5 #ost.or:ers e1%erien"e lon years of stanant real 3aes..$ile

$ealt$ and ed+"ation "osts soar5 #any .or:ers are for"ed to .or: se"ond and t$ird >o/s to ma:e ends meet5#ost .or:ers no. averae fo+r different o""+%ations d+rin t$eir lifetime, /ein invol+ntarily moved from >o/ to >o/ and"areer to "areer5 Often, retirementae .or:ers are for"ed to "ontin+e .or:in >+st to %rovide $ealt$ "are for t$emselves5Wit$ "a%italist lo/ali;ation, >o/s move as "a%italists e1%ort fa"tories and even entire ind+stries to ot$er "o+ntries5

#illions of %eo%le "ontin+o+sly live /elo. t$e %overty level< many s+ffer $omelessness and$+ner5 P+/li" and %rivate %rorams to alleviate %overty and $+ner do not rea"$ everyone, and are inade8+ate evenfor t$ose t$ey do rea"$5 Fa"ism remains t$e most %otent .ea%on to divide .or:in %eo%le5 @nstit+tionali;edra"ism %rovides /illions in e1tra %rofits for t$e "a%italists every year d+e to t$e +ne8+al%ay ra"ially o%%ressed .or:ers re"eive for .or: of "om%ara/le val+e5 Hll .or:ers re"eive lo.er.aes .$en ra"ism s+""eeds in dividin and disorani;in t$em5 @n every as%e"t of e"onomi" and so"ial life, Hfri"anHmeri"ans, Iatinos

Marxism Kritik - DDI 2014 SWS

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