[Reader-list] Fwd: What is to be done?

[Shikha Jhingan]

>Below is my attempt to come to some understanding in the current
>context. I wrote the following for the world-system listserve. It is
>about three paragraphs long. Thought it might interest you.
>Krishnendu Ray
>****************************************************************************
>Hello world-system folks.
>
>A legitimate question has been raised about the connection between
>current events and world-system analysis, which I think needs a
>better
>response than 'we are ex-Marxists, what else would you expect!'
>
>In the first instance we are talking so much about the attack on the
>WTC because many on this list live in the US. It may have nothing to
>do with any particular theoretical perspective. Second, talking
>about
>it on this list provides some therapeutic outlet for the shock and
>sorrow while avoiding the excessive flag waiving that surrounds us.
>It
>would be disingenuous to give a bigger reason than that. The shape of
>this list mirrors the shape of the world-economy.
>
>Nevertheless, the question about the connection persists. And I
>think
>world-system analysis is often weak at making the connections
>between
>current politics, the medium term, and long-term analysis. A case in
>point is Wallerstein's recent piece on the WTC incidents. I think,
>it
>is mostly generic, and what it says is 'as I have said repeatedly
>this
>is one more sign of the coming transition.' Well and good. Sometimes
>such statements can even be prophetic but there is a difference
>between prophecy and analysis. It does not enable us to connect our
>current position to the larger perspective, hence most commentators
>on
>this list have resorted to listing US misdeeds in the past. That is
>a
>good corrective but inadequate analysis.
>
>In contrast I would argue that our political position should be a
>three-pronged one. First, in the immediate context it is ok to argue
>for a military/police offensive against the perpetrators on the
>basis
>of reasonable evidence (effectively the Chinese position). That is
>the
>basis on which the US in fact has re-invigorated its current
>hegemony,
>even Cuba, Libya, China and Russia have joined in support. Hegemony
>entails some elements of real leadership.
>
>  Second, the above position has to be linked to two medium-term
>projects: (a) no invasion of Afghanistan (for reasons of US
>self-interest and the interest of the long-suffering people of
>Afghanistan) and (b) US ultimatum to Israel to negotiate in good
>faith
>with the PLO, or else face the withdrawal of US military and
>financial
>support. This is the political occasion to pursue the medium-term
>project of either prying open the US-Israel axis or making it
>politically difficult to justify it to the American public. (An
>invasion of Afghanistan will really be the terminal phase of US
>hegemony).
>
>Third, this is also the occasion to establish the connection between
>the violence of terrorism and the silent violence of
>underdevelopment
>in the modern world system. Each of these levels connects and
>justifies the other. That is how I think world-system analysis
>connects to the current events. It clarifies our perspective and
>allows for certain kinds of solutions while disallowing others.
>
>Thank you for listening.
>Krishnendu Ray