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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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5 comments:
Lenin would argue that Obama’s victory is not going to change the relationship between the capitalist class and the bureaucracy and military. The “thousand threads” (p.330) that connect these institutions are not affected by a change in elected officials even the position of commander and chief and head of state. The capitalist system will remain intact. The president legally controls the military, but the institution is already inundated with military elites that have immense power and the president will not be able to discharge all military elites without completely obliterating the military all together. Nor will the president be able to invoke extreme change within the bureaucratic system because the real affairs of the state are conducted within the thousand threads (p. 343)
Obama is the president of a capitalist country and was supported by several wealthy people despite his grassroots history. Therefore he will not revolutionize our system. Although he is not necessarily of the highest elite himself, he is indebted to them and has to engage in the game of capitalist politics with them (p.343). Lenin claims that in capitalism the changing of elected officials is nothing more than deciding who will “repress and crush” the people (p. 342). Obama will not abolish the capitalist state and establish a “dictatorship of the proletariat” (p.372) because he is an elected official by and for the current system. He is not a revolutionary leader grasping power and leading the revolutionary working class or a vanguard party. Obama despite his approach of change and unconventionality is still a part and product of the current system. Obama is assuming the role as president of a capitalist state. He is not challenging the system by seizing an opportunity within a breakdown of the existing system, such as Lenin executed in Russia.
Although he will not be able to revolutionize the current system, he may be able to transition are system periodically from competitive capitalism to organized capitalism because of the economic crisis. He will give concessions to the working class improving their daily lives slightly. The capitalistic class will remain extremely influential and the business of the state will remain to be conducted within the thousand threads (p. 343). The system may assume aspects of socialism or an expansion of the welfare state. However, by no means will we transition our entire mode of production to socialism, or our political structure to a dictatorship of the proletariat. Obama advocates for tax cuts for the working people, and insuring everyone has access to health care. He can achieve these tasks and can help people with social issues such as allowing gay marriage and abortions. These are simply concessions and nothing more. Obama is the president of a democracy which implies there is a state. Therefore he will not aid in withering away the state, which in turn withers away democracy (p.368). He may endeavor in the opposite. The state’s role will probably be expanded to meet the needs of the current times to overcome financial crisis and to alleviate socio-economic issues such as health care and education calamities.
I completely agree with your viewpoint on what Lenin would say =)
I could have read it too quickly, but I don't know if I saw what you would say to Lenin.
I'm assuming that you agree with Lenin, but I'm not sure... =)
Yes, I agree with what you wrote. Eventhough Obama means the best he is still part of the state and has to accomadate to everyone; the working class and the upperclass. Although, he cannot completely change the modes of production, but like you said, his concessions like tax cuts, health insurance etc. will slightly improve it and benefit everyone. We would need a complete revolution for that to occur...But by the way, good essay!
Rena,
I think you make some excellent points. Obama is not trying to change capatilism or start a revolution. However, he is making concessions to the working class by redistributing wealth from taxing the rich. I agree with you that the "thousand threads" will remain intact.
Personally, I think Obama sides a lot more with the wealthy than people think. I think he is providing an illusion to gain support, by provising minuscule concessions to the working class.
Good work Rena!
I found two points specifically interesting: Obama's military power vs. decentralization of army in socialism & expansion of the state's role b/c of crisis vs. withering away of the state.
I didn't think of these relations before, nice comparison!
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