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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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2 comments:
Lenin would take a pessimist view on Obama’s victory as Parliamentary democracy is the best shell for capitalism while giving the proletariats the impression that they have the ability in decision making (319, 343). Capitalist democracy is the best shell for capitalism as it reproduces the dominant class through bureaucracies, military, and concessions. However, proletariats are given the perception that this democracy unchains them by offering them the right to vote, organize, and communicate.
Moreover, Lenin believes that Obama would be more in favor of the dominant class as the “thousand threads” cannot be broken between the bourgeoisies and the state (330). Lenin would suggest that the capitalist state must be destroyed and a new state must be installed to end exploitation and classes (377). Essentially, Lenin would want Obama to be up for immediate recall, accountable to all workers, and generating rules; this way, the proletariats can collectively plan the economy and will eventually transition into communism.
I am in support of Lenin’s argument about capitalism democracy being the best shell for capitalism and an illusion for the proletariats, however, Lenin undermines the strength of the state and military. The state will continue to support the dominant class and will be coercive to the working class with it’s military. The working class will not be able to overcome the military and bureaucracies to change the capitalist state. Furthermore, Lenin’s retention of the bourgeois rights will continue to practice capitalism as people produce according to one’s ability. It will be difficult to decide what is appropriate for one’s need.
I agree with what Lenin would say against Obama but I
also think that Lenin would not be totally against
him. I think that they do have some similarities in
regards to wanting more equality through the workers.
Lenin wants to impose a universal wage for all workers
creating a smaller gap between classes which in
demonstrated in the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.
Obama too wants to create a smaller gap between
classes but through a different approach. Obama wants
to tax the rich and give to the poor almost like a
modern day Robin Hood. Lenin might also think that
Obama would be a good first step towards communism
which is outlined in his concepts in the Dictatorship
of the Proletariat considering Obama is elected and
has the ability to be up for
recall. However the flip side may be that
Lenin believes the thousand threads are much too
strong to be destroyed and since Obama is part of the
state the threads will never be abolished. He might
also view Obama as just an illusion for the people to
think they have power but in reality it just mystifies
the strength of the thousand threads.
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