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This is a blog for a community of students in Sociology 101A: "Sociological Theory," in the Department of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, Fall, 2008.
Welcome!
This is the informal blog spot for errant questions, random ramblings, and clever musings. For the rest of the semester, we'll use this blog to clarify the work(s) of Lenin, Gramsci and Fanon. Feel free to endlessly post, and don't forget: Theory Rocks!
Will Obama bring the U.S. closer to socialism?
Obama: A Traditional or Organic Intellectual?
Grappling with Gramsci
"The mode of being of the new intellectual can no longer consist in eloquence, which is an exterior and momentary mover of feelings and passions, but in active participation in practical life, as constructor, organizer, 'permanent persuader' and not just a simple orator (but superior at the same time to the abstract mathematical spirit) ..." (Prison Notebooks, 10).
"The relationship between the intellectuals and the world of production is not as direct as it is with the fundamental social groups but is, in varying degrees, 'mediated' by the whole fabric of society and by the complex of superstructures, of which the intellectual are, precisely, the 'functionaries'" (Prison Notebooks 12).
"The superstructure of civil society are like the trench-systems of modern warfare. In war it would sometimes happen that a fierce artillery attack seemed to have destroyed the outer perimeter; and at the moment of their advance and attack the assailants would find themselves confronted by a line of defense which was still effective" (Prison Notebooks 235).
"The massive structures of modern democracies, both as State organizations, and as complexes of associations in civil society, constitute for the art of politics as it were the 'trenches' and the permanent fortifications of the front in the war of position ..." (Prison Notebooks 243).
"... [I]t is obvious that all the essential questions of sociology are nothing other than the questions of political science" (Prison Notebooks 244).
"As long as the class-State exists the regulated society cannot exist, other than metaphorically---i.e. only in the sense that the class-State too is a regulated society" (Prison Notebooks 257).
What did you think of the Rosa Luxemburg film?
Oh No He Didn't: Endless, Evolving and Perplexing Lenin Quotables
"We are in favour of a democratic republic as the best form of state for the proletariat under capitalism" (The State and Revolution, 323).
"Simultaneously with an immense expansion of democracy, which for the first time become democracy for the poor, democracy for the people, and not democracy for the money-bags, the dictatorship of the proletariat imposes a series of restrictions on the freedom of the oppressors, the exploiters, the capitalists. We must suppress them in order to free humanity from wage slavery, their resistance must be crushed by force; it is clear that there is no freedom and no democracy where there is suppression and where there is violence" (The State and Revolution, 373).
"The expression 'the state withers away' is very well chosen, for it indicates both the gradual and the spontaneous nature of the process. Only habit can, and undoubtedly will, have such an effect ..." (The State and Revolution, 374).
What did you think of Salt of the Earth?
Who got it right?
Blog Archive
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2008
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November
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- A Different Wretched of the Earth!
- Fanon in Context
- Frantz Fanon
- The Thousand Threads and Obama's Economic Advisors
- Theory Barocks Assignment
- Rosa Luxemburg
- The revolutionary visions of Rosa Luxemberg
- Rosa Luxemburg's Fight for Revolution
- Will Obama bring the U.S. closer to socialism?
- Is Obama connected to the state with a thosuand th...
- Lenin on Obama
- Lenin's view of Obama
- Theory BAROCKS!!!
- Lenin and Obama
- Lenin: "Obama and his capitalist tendencies"
- Lenin and Obama,
- Thousand Threads Remain
- Baracks Assignment
- Theory Barocks
- The "Revolutionary" Question
- Lenin says...
- Lenin on Obama
- Lenin on Obama's Victory
- Obama and Lenin
- What would Lenin say about Obama's Victory....
- Lenin vs Obama
- Revolutionary Transitions: Luxemburg and Lenin
- Luxemburg & Lenin
- Lenin believes that Obama’s.....
- what would lenin say
- Obama and Lenin
- Traditional vs. Organic
- Traditional vs. Organic
- Thousand Threads Connected to Congress Too?
- Gramsci on Luxemburg
- Sounds like a Gramsci Studybreak!
- Jeopardy Question: Class in Itself
- Luxemburg meets Burawoy
- Vida de Gramsci
- yay for today's debate!!!
- 1981 PATCO Strike
- Kropotkin's Letter to Lenin
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November
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3 comments:
To many, Obama is both the symbol and catalyst for change and equality for all people in this country. Some have even said that his administration will bring forth Socialism. Unfortunately, Lenin would disagree with both points. He says that Socialism emerges with a revolution by the mass working class, which would smash the State in order to rid the “thousand threads” – the idea that the State is tightly connected to the Capitalists (319). Obviously, that did not happen. Secondly, Obama’s seeming “working class” victory is really just a shell that benefits Capitalists because it makes people think they have power and, at the same time, mystifies those “thousand threads” (319).
Because Obama was elected through a parliamentary democracy, it is impossible that Socialism would arise out of this. Lenin believes that Socialism can only emerge by a revolution of the mass proletariat that destroys the State. A new State will arise with the dictatorship of the proletariat in Socialism. It is crucial to destroy the existing State because a “thousand threads” link Capitalists to the State, which ensures class domination over the working class. For Lenin, a State arises when there is irreconcilable antagonism between classes (314). It functions as an organ for repression for one class to rule over another and does so with the institutions of the army and prison system (315). Lenin would see that Obama has not changed society. He would argue that it is still a Capitalistic State, a place where class oppression continues.
Moreover, Obama’s election through parliamentary democracy is a shell that benefits Capitalists because it makes people think they have power and, at the same time, mystifies those “thousand threads” (319). In fact, Lenin thinks that this system only gives people that power to choose, every few years, a new member of the ruling class that will continue to repress them (342). On the other hand, he also believes that this system benefits the Proletariat’s as well because it allows them the space and freedom to organize together (381). In his campaign, he did promise many things to the working class. So in reality, perhaps Obama represents both the working class and the Capitalists.
It is precisely Lenin’s unclear position of democratic republics being a shell for both Capitalists and the working class that makes it impossible to presume what class Obama is truly working for and what class will benefit the most. While it can be agreed that Obama probably may not bring about Socialism, he could bring about more equality to all people, which consequently could take away power from the Capitalists. Of course, through Lenin’s “thousand threads,” those changes would not affect the system overall, which would further strengthen his argument that parliamentary democracy is just a “talking shop” – a place where there is an illusion of power through voting and voice, but in reality, does nothing to the repressive system itself. However, Obama’s “working class” victory has ignited many people from the working class to organize together, which could prove to be pivotal in later elections and in future events that could bring about the necessary means for class consciousness and revolution.
Anthony:
I fully agree with what you think Lenin would say about Obama’s victory. Lenin would probably see that Obama is a “socialist thinker” and would probably advice him to fully move towards socialism. Because parliamentary still exists, Lenin would be really unhappy about his victory. He would believe that the state still continues to be the organ of repression in which people are being exploited to. Obama and Lenin both believe in the power of equality and freedom. However, while Lenin is a firm believer in destroying the capitalist state to move towards socialism and then communism, Obama is just a believer of making some slow changes to the state. However, the “thousands threads” will always be there. We don’t live in a revolutionary era for the working class to destroy the state. Lenin would highly suggest for Obama to give up his powers and for the communist transition to begin. However, we are in the need of the state, and it would be difficult for the working class to take in charge. Overall, you have a great insight on what Lenin would think, I totally agree!
I agree with what you said about how with Obama elected, it is still a capitalist state, in fact, no one is denying that, and you addressed it, because Obama is only implementing incremental changes to the system, and not trying to radically change the whole system. Because of this, I agree with Wafa, that Obama is a "socialist thinker."
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