Marxist-Leninist Communist Party of Germany (MLPD) statement at SIPRAL 27

CONTRIBUTION OF THE MARXIST-LENINIST PARTY OF GERMANY (MLPD)

Dear comrades, and friends

On behalf of the Central Committee of the MLPD I would like to express my sincere thanks to the PCMLE and the JRE Youth League for the invitation to the 27th Seminar "Problems of the Revolution in Latin America".

Due to the acute political development in Ecuador and the tasks arising from the dissolution of parliament and new elections, unfortunately it could not be held face to face. Based on the publications of "En Marcha", we have also reported on the profound events in Germany and will continue to do so.

Of great importance and even growing explosiveness is the theme of this year's seminar: "The struggles of the working class and peoples and the inter-imperialist conflicts".

My name is Anna Bartholomé and as head of the MLPD for South America, I am very happy to participate in this seminar – as I have done many times.

I greet you very cordially from the chair of the MLPD party, Gabi Fechtner, and from Stefan Engel, leader of our theoretical organ, the REVOLUTIONARY WAY. I also bring you greetings from the head of the international section of the MLPD, Monika Gärtner-Engel, who performs the task of main coordinator of the world revolutionary organization ICOR and who is currently co-chair of the international anti-fascist and anti-imperialist organization. Children's Red Fox.

I apologize that our contribution to the seminar could only come to you late, but you can imagine that our tasks in party building and the class struggle and internationalist responsibilities place very high demands on us.

Parallel to the international seminar in Quito, from August 31 to September 3, the III International Miners' Conference is taking place, in which I myself will participate. For international finance capital, the attempt to drain old and new mining projects is of paramount importance, above all for the conversion of capitalist production to digitalization and electric mobility. This goes hand in hand with immense environmental destruction, against which fierce resistance is being waged.

The international miners' conference took place for the first time in Arequipa, Peru in 2013 and for the second time in Ghodavarikani, India in 2017. The current conference is taking place in Germany and active miners from 18 countries, as well as many supporters of the miners' movement, are meeting, debating and making decisions on how they can work together even better at the international level and to coordinate struggles together for their interests.

To give you an idea, we want to show you a short video of the opening day:

...

We are currently witnessing a far-reaching evolution of human history, without exaggeration, which challenges the clarity and determination of the revolutionaries of the world.

Humanity is in a latent existential crisis.

The war in Ukraine with the acute preparation of a world and nuclear war, like the global environmental catastrophe that has begun, has the potential to bring all of humanity to ruin. The world imperialist system and the single dominant international finance capital are responsible for this. The international socialist revolution has become an urgent necessity.

The global environmental catastrophe that has begun brings with it a "year of records": record heat in southern Europe, record forest fires with enormous damage, record floods in Pakistan, Slovenia, China, etc.

The global environmental catastrophe marks a development that is also bringing heavy mortgages for the building of a socialist society.

The processes of the complex biosphere system, which have developed over millions of years and have now been irreversibly disturbed or destroyed, cannot be reversed by individual technical measures! Self-reinforcing irreversible tipping points have been created or bypassed. The melting of the permafrost and of glaciers cannot be stopped. Just like one cannot stop the ecosystem of a rainforest that has evolved over millions of years.

For environmental awareness to develop and for people to fight for survival and take up the struggle for survival, we need clarity about the situation in which we find ourselves and a scientific approach.

The will among the masses is growing, despite all the agitation and criminalization of young environmental activists. This is also shown by recent surveys. However, to achieve a socially transformative struggle there is nothing more important in the struggle for the environment than to do this theoretical work to get ahead of development!

A supplement to REVOLUTIONARY WAY No. 35, "Catastrophe alarm, what can be done against the wanton destruction of the unity of humanity and nature?” under the direction of the party leadership and editorial director Stefan Engel together with a team of competent experts on the world environmental catastrophe, will appear in the coming weeks. And this book will certainly be translated as soon as possible.

As to the alternative already mentioned by Rosa Luxemburg – "fight for socialism or perish in capitalist barbarism" – it is perfectly clear that the masses of the whole world do not want to perish in the barbarism threatened by war, environmental catastrophe and massive impoverishment. They are taking up the fight for their future and that of the children and young people.

In Europe, we participated in a "militant spring" with general strikes and mass struggles in France, Greece, Portugal and Italy, which were not only directed against impoverishment by rapid inflation, anti-mass pension schemes as in France, but partly also against the warmongers, the gigantic rearmament for the war in Ukraine, etc. In Germany we are witnessing an awakening of class consciousness on a broad front with a tendency to further development. The social confusion spread by the rulers, their mass media and the so-called social media is beginning to dissolve into a struggle unfolded by the mentality.

Large sections of the population are disappointed and extremely dissatisfied with the government formed by Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats, the so-called "traffic-light" coalition.

Especially among young people and the very active environmental movement, an increasingly global critique of capitalism is developing under the slogan "system change, not climate coincidence". This includes the search for a fundamental social alternative without already having a clear "we" over the "how".

As a counter-movement, the rulers are pushing for a right-wing development, especially through a populist, racist, misogynist and divisive agitation against refugees – in particular to build an increasingly openly fascist party, AFD – the so-called Alternative for Germany.

In this polarized situation, the MLPD together with its youth federation REBELL has launched an offensive to help genuine socialism gain new prestige against all anti-communist reservations. It is a dialectical negation of the latent existential crisis of humanity, which also produces tendencies to the cult of spontaneity, but also to resignation and panic.

Without underestimating the real gravity of the situation, it is necessary to encourage the masses to fight for a better world with proletarian optimism.

The final declaration of the 26th International Seminar on Problems of the Revolution in Latin America was also signed by the MLPD by decision of the Central Committee. We completely agree with the evaluation:

"The invasion of Ukraine by Russian imperialism has turned this country into the scene of a war in which the economic, political and geostrategic interests of several capitalist-imperialist countries are at stake. This aggression and the immediate intervention of US imperialism and its allies in the European Union and NATO in the conflict are an expression of the intensification of the inter-imperialist contradictions to the point of being waged on military terrain, turning this conflict into a war of an inter-imperialist character."

The economic war against Russia, justified by the war, has far-reaching consequences for the masses all over the world with inflation, famine, increasing exploitation of man and nature.

The war in Ukraine is the open outbreak of the struggle between the old and the new imperialist countries in the multipolar world, which has been dormant for years.

In this phase, German imperialism has clearly reinforced its ambitions to become the leading military power. The world has never been so close to a third nuclear world war. Putin wants to increase his intervention army to 400,000 men. Calls are being made through mobile phones, which are monitored everywhere. Thousands of people are fleeing. In Ukraine, tens of thousands of people are trying to get out of military service, which is no problem for the rich, given the rampant corruption: small farmers, artisans and workers are sent to the front as cannon fodder.

The growing weariness of war in all countries directly or indirectly involved is a special obstacle for warmongers.

German imperialism is trying to become the first military power. During a visit, War Minister Boris Pistorius complained about the decline in numbers of recruitment of soldiers. He criticized the Bundeswehr's previous advertising campaigns with adventure films and stressed that recruits must be suitable for missions abroad. The core is the "will to defend the country and the alliance" and that soldiers must be willing "to risk their own health for the safety of others". And, of course, not only their health, but their lives, but more and more young people are not willing to do so. In the struggle for peace, questions of principle and ideology must also be clarified in the international revolutionary and workers' movement.

There are crude falsifications which are being spread in Germany especially by the old revisionist party, the DKP, and former employees of the secret service of the GDR, the Stasi.

They describe only the USA is imperialist. Even German imperialism, as a vassal of the US, is underestimated in its independent aspirations. The revisionists use this to justify their policy of supporting Chinese and Russian imperialism. Such revisionist argumentation leads today directly to social-chauvinism.

Of course, there are major and minor imperialist powers. But we are against every imperialist –we don't pit the biggest thief against the smallest one.

Starting with the superpowers USA and China, they are attempting to form blocs in their quest for world domination. The recent BRICS conference is a case in point.

The new focus of international tension in Niger, Africa, is an expression of this intensified international competition.

We must promote the growing critique of capitalism, the growing openness to a socialist alternative, especially among young people, with our efforts to help genuine socialism gain a new reputation.

This requires not only good arguments, but we want to achieve small-scale low-threshold work with mass effect with all the appearance and image of the party. At the same time, we must develop systematic educational and consciousness-raising work.

Thus, we take the upcoming 50th anniversary of Pinochet's fascist coup in Chile as an occasion to refute all the illusions of a "peaceful road to socialism" that the revisionists have pursued until today and to convince people of the need for revolutionary struggle.

Last year's final declaration states: "We call for strengthening the unity and organization of the workers and peoples to confront the owners of capital. This unity must be anti-imperialist and anti-fascist and express the internationalist character of the struggle. From this America, where the peoples are struggling for their emancipation, we express our solidarity with all the peoples of the world who are struggling for work, life, freedom. We are united by the same ideals, we know that we are right, and also that we have the strength."

Forging such an anti-imperialist and anti-fascist united front is more urgent today than ever.

Proletarian internationalism of transnational cooperation and coordination is an adequate response to right-wing development, fascism, war and the world environmental catastrophe. For all its military, political and economic power, imperialism is weak. It can no longer solve the problems of humanity. The workers and masses are mobilizing; the question is, where is their protest headed? We have to influence it, organize the workers and the masses, collect their protest, unite it, coordinate it, radicalize it and revolutionize it through the work of consciousness.

We would like to appeal to all organizations, parties and individuals gathered here to participate actively in this great work and become members of the Anti-Imperialist United Front.

Thank you very much for your attention and I wish for a continued exciting and successful seminar.

Long live international solidarity!
Anna Bartholomé

Communist Party of Labor of the Dominican Republic (PCT) statement at SIPRAL 27

THE STRUGGLES OF WORKERS AND PEOPLES, AND
THE INTER-IMPERIALIST DISPUTES

The Communist Party of Labor considers the central theme of the Seminar to be very timely on this occasion. In the first place, because the struggle of the workers and peoples corresponds to the need for changes and as a necessary response to the problems posed by imperialist domination; secondly, because the current historical situation of the revolution continues to be one of class confrontation, in which the struggles of the masses for the overthrow of the bourgeoisie occupy a fundamental place; thirdly, because in the present context, the inter-imperialist contradictions are therefore at the order of the day, and it is up to the revolutionary parties and organizations to analyze them in order to derive the lines of orientation pertinent to the great cause of revolutionary change.

1. THE STRUGGLES OF THE WORKING CLASS AND THE PEOPLES ARE DECISIVE TO FORGE THE REVOLUTION

Marxism-Leninism is the doctrine of liberation of the working class and oppressed peoples; this is a known truth to which it will always be necessary to return with regard to analyses and evaluations of the living and working conditions of the workers, as well as the perspectives of their struggles. against exploitation and oppression in capitalist society. The historical resistance of the workers and their victories in different scenarios of struggle are irrefutable examples of their power as a revolutionary social class, as seen in the struggles waged throughout history against capital. The experience of the Paris Commune as the first test of working-class power and the glorious October Revolution of 1917 are illustrative examples of the correctness of revolutionary theory.

The Bolshevik revolution, the most important political event in the 20th century, bequeathed lessons of extraordinary value to the revolutionary cause throughout the world. It was the result of a whole complex process of struggles, accumulation of forces and political tactics, which culminated in the triumph of the revolution. With this experience it was shown that, in the context of the capitalist system, the oppressed workers and peoples can not only aspire to power, but their effective victory and the revolutionary transformation of society is a viable task when the revolutionary struggle has a vanguard and is endowed with political strategy and tactics. consistent with that ideal in tune with reality.

The building and accumulation of forces in the revolutionary sense challenges communists and revolutionaries to develop ever closer links with the working and popular masses. This task in the current context entails difficulties and obstacles whose overcoming requires a lot of creativity and audacity, just as we strive to carry out the critical balance, the revolutionary parties and organizations in our daily struggle, but the visible results demand much more, much more. We must hammer consciousness into this.

The struggles of workers and peoples for their emancipation are developing in the face of powerful enemies who have at their disposal enormous resources of all kinds. Faced with this reality, the working class and the peoples necessarily require the building and strengthening of Marxist-Leninist parties and revolutionary organizations that, in the heat of class struggles, shape and evaluate their ability of struggle, thus responding to the challenge of promoting the convergence of objective and subjective conditions that make it possible to seize power and begin the beginning of the new society that is the gravedigger of capitalism, socialist society.

2. THIS STRUGGLE IN THE NEW HISTORICAL CONDITIONS

   Marx and Engels established in the Communist Manifesto: " Our epoch, the epoch of the bourgeoisie, possesses, however, this distinctive feature: it has simplified the class antagonisms. Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two great hostile camps, into two great classes directly facing each other: Bourgeoisie and Proletariat." Lenin, in his classic work "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism" (1916) consolidated the conclusions of Marx and Engels, characterizing the epoch of imperialism as one of great concentration of monopolies and of the proletarian revolution.

   With the victory of the Russian revolution and the organization of the Soviet state, the experience of the Bolsheviks became a universal socialist model that served as an inspiring spark. so that the proletariat in struggle on a world scale would make the leap from "a class in itself" to "a class for itself", trusting in the capacity of its vanguard for revolutionary change and the building of a new society.

   Despite all the disorienting maneuvers of the imperialists and their spokespersons, such as the emergence of the theory of the so-called "end of history and the class struggle", the working class and oppressed peoples have not ceased to fight for their demands against capitalist domination and oppression.

   From the disintegration of the Soviet bloc and the impact on society of the scientific-technical revolution, new circumstances have been created in which the capitalist system and imperialism deepen their domination, while their spokespersons from certain academic scenarios and media speculate about the ability of that system to "reinvent itself" and that "revolutions are a thing of the past." Despite this confusing and demobilizing campaign, to the extent that the exploitation of labor power and the oppression of peoples and nations are expanded and deepened, the objective bases of class confrontation continue to mark the course of contemporary society.

   This incontrovertible truth is revealed in the various actions of struggle and resistance against oppression and exploitation by the workers and peoples in recent decades in various are was, which have their most recent expression in the extraordinary struggles by workers and other oppressed sectors in France.

   The strikes, street fighting, attempts at popular insurrection in different areas, are part of the scenario of contemporary society.

   It is true that, in various countries, this potential for rebellion has often been channeled into support for reformist democratic electoral choices that, in many cases, betrayed the electorate, abandoning any idea of democratic and social justice reform. This betrayal is creating great frustrations in broad sectors of society, which together with the continuity of the crisis and its consequences for the working masses, is creating conditions for the strengthening of fascist and neo-fascist choices, as we are seeing in a growing number of countries.

   The great challenge is to create revolutionary consciousness in the masses, whose mobilization is the antidote to the fascist danger. This mobilization of the masses cannot be limited to the level of economic demands, it requires action in pursuit of political gains. For this, the role of the vanguard communists and revolutionaries and their party is key. In this sense, the present challenge for the cause of the revolution remains to win the hearts and minds of the masses, placing the workers and youth in the first place, starting from the fact that in capitalist society, of all the exploited classes, it is the working class that is most consistently revolutionary.

   On this point, comrade Manuel Salazar proposes the reflection based on the question before "Who will win over the masses is a very topical question. And it has always been for a force interested in seizing power, having the masses of workers and other popular sectors as the main factor to achieve and retain it" (M. Salazar. The Revolution is Today, Santo Domingo (1997), p. 61).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The raison d'être for the militants, for communists and revolutionaries, is the political exercise for the overthrow of the reactionary classes and the building of revolutionary political power. For this, the struggles of the workers and peoples are key, because the real revolution must be their work.

   In this regard, a text by comrade Pablo Miranda states that, "For the popular struggles to be included in the revolutionary process it is necessary that they (the masses) clarify their understanding of the class character of their enemies. They must understand the need to fight for power, recognize their present strength, their potential, they must identify their true friends and accept the leadership of the Party and its forces.” (Pablo Miranda. The subjects of the revolution, p. 55.)

   It is important to emphasize that this consciousness is achieved, built, with the experience obtained by the workers and other popular sectors in their daily struggles closely inspired by the communist party and other revolutionary organizations. Without this, the masses can be the object of confusion, seduced by the parties of the bourgeois-capitalist system, by which they are diverted.

   In response to the adverse conditions in which we are struggling today, and in recognition of the unprecedented challenges we face, in order to raise our capacity for analysis and intervention on an increasingly complex reality, it is worth noting that the revolutionary movement has faced similar situations in the past and has been able to overcome them.

   In this regard, referring to the experience of the mass struggle during the period 1905-1907, Lenin warns that:

   "The defeat of the revolution resulting from this first campaign revealed... that the forces were insufficiently prepared, that the revolutionary crisis was insufficiently wide and deep.... The great wars in history, he great problems of revolutions, were solved only by the advanced classes returning to the attack again and again—and they achieved victory after having learned the lessons of defeat.” (V I Lenin, “On the Road,” Collected Works, Volume 15, p. 351,: Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1977.) The logic on which the evolution of the capitalist system rests, creates factors of crisis that eventually lead to a revolutionary situation, that the constancy of the communists and revolutionaries in consistent positions, with firmness and clarity of orientation, their protagonism in tune with the masses, lead us to new revolutionary crises.

   That is the true perspective of our work.

   1. INTER-IMPERIALIST STRUGGLES CONSPIRE AGAINST THE INTERESTS OF WORKERS AND PEOPLES

   On a world scale, inter-imperialist conflicts are developing motivated by the interests of this or that imperialist power, regardless of human lives, the destruction of the environment and the destiny of the peoples.

   Every day it becomes clearer to the peoples that the war in Ukraine is the theatre of confrontation of the interests of the imperialist powers, which in the framework of this war, are consolidating old and new alliances.

   In the context of this military conflict, the United States, which instigated the war together with the United Kingdom, has managed to increase its control over the European Union, despite the fact that the big business of delivering weapons to Ukraine creates benefits for all. It is a fact that in this context the community of interests between Russia and China has also been strengthened.

   Assessing the nature of the First World War very early on as a war between imperialist sides, an illuminating text by Lenin states that "Seizure of territory and subjugation of other nations, the ruining of competing nations and the plunder of their wealth, distracting the attention of the working masses from the internal political crises... disuniting and nationaliststultification of the workers.... these comprise the sole actual content, importance and significance of the present war.... Neither group of belligerents is inferior to the other in spoliation, atrocities and the boundless brutality of war" (Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, “The War and Russian Social Democracy,” in Collected Works, vol. 21,: pp. 27-28Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1974).

   As if it were written today, these ideas confirm the relevance of relying on Leninist theory when addressing the complex phenomena and processes of the national anti-imperialist struggle and the struggle for socialism; the agreements and disagreements between imperialist powers and groups of imperialist countries; the crises in the evolution of capitalism in its monopoly phase, and especially our responsibility for the modification of the current framework, to promote the emergence of new conditions conducive to revolutionary change, the creation of consciousness, organization and struggle of those exploited and oppressed for national and social emancipation.

   GLORY TO MARXISM-LENINISM!

   DOWN WITH IMPERIALISM!

   LONG LIVE THE STRUGGLE OF THE WORKERS AND PEOPLES!

   Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the PCT. August 31, 2023.

   
   

Revolutionary Youth of Ecuador (JRE) statement at SIPRAL 27

 TO FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE IS TO FIGHT AGAINST CAPITALISM!

In the world there are 1200 million young people who represent 16% of the world population; by 2030, this figure will grow by 7% and there will be more than 1300 million (UN, 2023), the largest number of young people in history. Youth is the most dynamic factor of production, of cultural, technological, communication and social development. However, this is not recognized in a world in which, in addition to economic exploitation, ethnic, gender and age marginalization is imposed. But, marginalization is far from being a "moral" issue, and, in fact, 60% of young people in the so-called "developing" countries have no work nor education. It is estimated that 39% of young people and adolescents in Latin America live in poverty and up to 10% in indigence; the homicide rate among young people is 33 per thousand inhabitants, suicide remains the second leading cause of death for adolescents and half of sexual abuse is committed against women up to the age of 15 (UNFPA, 2022). The world is turning its back on those it claims are "its future."

But, it is not just any "world"; we are talking about the world in which 1% of the population hoards twice as much wealth as the rest of the population together and, not satisfied with this, has taken 63% of the new wealth created in the last two years (OXFAM, 2023). We are talking about a world in which, while people are starving, dozens of active military conflicts (the most important is the Russia-Ukraine war, but it is not the only one) are being carried out and military spending has increased to more than $2.24 trillion. This exceeds the average spending during the Cold War and the main ones are the powers that are contesting for the world: the United States, China and Russia (SIPRI, 2022).

We must also talk about a world that, in the midst of the pandemic, could not guarantee the lives of 15 million people (WHO, 2021), in which there are 207 million unemployed, in which 140 million remain outside the educational systems, in addition to the 90% who suspended their studies for up to a year. We are talking about a world that is on the verge of a new mass extinction, due to the serious environmental crisis to which the voracious actions of the mega-transnational corporations are leading us. This world is capitalism, in its final stage, imperialism.

On the other hand, the peoples are rising up to reject the policy of hunger, rape and death by the global and local elites. In Europe, workers and peasants mobilized against the announced austerity measures, even in countries such as Britain, Germany and Austria. In France, the struggle against the government's labor reform turned into a major rebellion. In Africa and Asia, movements are persisting that confront neocolonialism and demand democratic reforms. The women's and environmental movement are growing and, despite the agendas of NGOs, they are taking on anti-system overtones.

Latin America, in turn, remains the center of disputes and contradictions. While U.S., Chinese and European imperialism continue to vie for economic, political and military control, using their old and new neoliberal, "progressive" and even pro-fascist faces, the struggle of the indigenous people, workers, peasants, women and youth are continuing to unfold in several areas. In all these battles, the young people are fighting on the front line, they are revolutionizing communications and organizing themselves in different ways. The building of truly popular and left-wing projects is still a work in the making.

In Ecuador, the neoliberal offensive is seeking to privatize strategic areas, social security, to hand over resources to mining and oil transnationals, to impose labor flexibility and reduce investment in health care and education. As part of the strategy of global domination and the US security doctrine, work is also being done to strengthen the repressive apparatus and demonize the popular struggle.

The people have resisted this new onslaught and, there have been protests in the agricultural sector, hunger strikes and mobilizations of teachers, resistance in areas threatened by extractivism, the women's struggles against femicidal violence and for the right to abortion in cases of rape; students have also demonstrated for the budget for education and admission to universities. A high point of this struggle was the strike of June 2022. At present, the people are demanding solutions to the serious crisis of insecurity that has taken over the country, hand in hand with organized crime and the corrupt State.

Young people are suffering the consequences of this serious situation in a particular way. Only 9.9% have adequate employment, 195 thousand students did not return to the classroom after the pandemic, between 250 and 300 thousand young people stay out of university each period, 3 out of 10 face mental health problems and 41 thousand adolescents from the age of 14 become pregnant every year. In the midst of this abandonment, young people from the popular sectors are being recruited by criminal organizations, but they are not the majority; more than 80% of young people are demanding urgent solutions to insecurity.

In this scenario, marked by a deep institutional crisis, there is the unprecedented event of the decree of cross death [by which the President can dissolve the National Assembly] and call for early presidential elections; the left forged a unitary process that, for various reasons, among those highlighted are the resurgence of political violence, did not achieve the expected results and today we are facing a second round in which two right-wing alternatives are being debated. Faced with this situation, maintaining our class independence, the popular organizations are promoting the null vote. An important milestone that was achieved is the victory of the popular referendums in Defense of the Yasuní and the Chocó Andino, which opens the doors for the fight against extractivism under new conditions.

Intertwining these ideas, we can state that, while the youth continues to move the world, capitalism, while filling the pockets of a handful of rich people, is denying a future to the millions of young people and, in the process, is placing the whole world at mortal risk. That is why, naturally, discontent, social mobilization and protest have become a necessary resource, even in the Europe of the so-called "first world" and, with it, the perspective of the revolutionary transformation of society is still present, although the capitalists are arming for war abroad and at home.

The youth of Ecuador and the world yearn for change, despite the brutal ideological onslaught to disarm, demobilize, and confuse them; they are continuing to be the protagonist in the struggle for rights and the preservation of the planet. They continue in the search for alternatives and, in this way, the efforts of the left must be oriented towards affirming its relationship with the youth, knowing their reality, their subjectivity, fighting their battles, organizing them, intertwining the concerns and aspirations of the youth to the strategic objective of the revolution and socialism.

Long live the struggle of the youth, workers and peoples of the world!

REVOLUTIONARY YOUTH OF ECUADOR

September, 2023

Colombian Corporation for Research and Popular Education statement at SIPRAL 27

PERSISTING IN THE STRUGGLE FOR CHANGE

1. So far in 2023, the analysis of international events reaffirms the theses of Leninism on imperialism and once again highlights the validity and correctness of the utopia and the tasks of the international proletariat in this epoch.

As we have pointed out on other occasions, capitalism today maintains the fundamental features pointed out by Lenin in his book: "Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism," confirming at every step, in addition to its decomposition and agony, the impossibility of going back to the dawn of capitalism, free competition, "peaceful democracy" or the establishment of a society where souls atone and with a purified heart come equality and justice.

A fallacy generally used by those who confuse politics with religion is that of those who preach the salvation of capitalism and the opening up of a humane capitalism, which regains relations of equality, justice and solidarity between men and societies.

To insist on such theses at a time when the characteristics of imperialism, crises and social antagonisms are increasingly evident is not only to defend an anti-communist gimmick but also to side with those who seek to defend the indefensible. Humane capitalism is an impossible theory to realize, fallacious par excellence, which ignores the violence and injustice that is inherent in the capitalist system, yesterday and today, instrument of the rapacity of the monopolies, the profound private appropriation of profit, the extreme and increasing levels of oppression and exploitation, the fusion of monopolies and the state and the adoption of violence as the main method of securing property, power and domination, as well as war seen in the redivision, subjugation and destruction of the sovereignty of the peoples.

Returning to what was stated at the beginning, the decomposition and agony of capitalism in its imperialist phase is reflected in the most relevant facts of the current situation. The big banks and monopolies have closed ranks and are contesting for the domination and control of the planet and cyberspace; the imperialist powers, without avoiding war, are unceasingly promoting and establishing the formation of alliances and blocs for domination, supremacy, control and redivision of the world, the strategic areas, raw materials and energy resources.

The competition and struggle of the superpowers is also opening the way in technological matters, the battle led by the US, China, Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands are moving countless stocks and investments in the world, putting into play new forces and major economic, technological and social transformations. It is clear that in the immediate future the fourth industrial revolution. which is so much talked about these days, will lead to new ways of living, producing, working and relating. It is not a dream to say that the new economic and social activity will be nurtured by virtual and physical systems, which cooperate intelligently and flexibly at the global level. It is already foreseen that the widespread use of intelligent and connected systems will allow not only the fusion and combination of new technologies (genetic engineering, nanotechnology, robotics, quantum computing, renewable energies) but also new scenarios and social antagonisms.

The current battle between the US and China for control of Taiwan is leading to a whole geopolitical, economic and technological struggle. It is a secret to very few that 87% of the world's semiconductor production and market (microchip/integrated circuits used in all industries, electronic products, medical equipment, cars and industrial machines) are being monopolized by Taiwan, South Korea and China. It is also no secret that the "new oil" is in the form of a chip and that the movement and control of the world’s economy depends on it. Taiwan and South Korea also produce 83% of the chips for processors, with the growing demand for these, their scarcity could represent a superlative drag on the world economy. The control of the production of quantum computers (which use microchips below 6 and 7 nanometers, capable of processing high levels of information) would put any economy in check and that the new industrial and technological revolution will become another instrument of domination and redivision of the world.

It must therefore be emphasized that the action of the monopolies and in general all the violence used by the imperialists to increase their profits constitute a brake on the development of the productive forces and technical progress, because in some cases they limit it and in others they boycott it, always subjecting them to their designs and interests. It is true that social contradictions exist in the present and new dynamics of the world; it would be profoundly reactionary and obscurantist to deny them, to question them or simply to omit them, as opportunists of all kinds do.

The peoples and the different imperialist countries are insistently clashing over their interests, purposes and policies, while the competing imperialists strive to impose their countercyclical policies on the peoples. The peoples on the other hand are resisting, defending their sovereignty and rejecting the collusion and the society of the oligarchies (major and minor), the monopolies and finance capital which are seeking in the midst of the most extreme anarchy to raise their profits by placing the crisis on the shoulders of the working masses.

The working class likewise is clashing with the bourgeoisies of all kinds, not renouncing the strikes and the struggle to defend their demands and banners as a political subject. A new period in the emancipatory struggle is seen in highlighting the new challenges demanded by the new cyclical crisis and the new impulse to war and the redivision of the world.

The present facts lay bare the validity of the Leninist approach that warns that "Imperialism is capitalism in that stage of development in which the dominance of monopolies and finance capital has established itself; in which the export of capital has acquired pronounced importance; in which the division of the world among the international trusts has begun; in which the division of all territories of the globe among the biggest capitalist powers has been completed."¹

The facts also show that the present period is marked by the sharpening of the fundamental contradiction of capitalism: that between the social character of production and the private-capitalist character of appropriation. This having been shown, the accentuation and exacerbation of social contradictions, the inevitability of the revolution and the end of imperialism is undeniable in the current situation.

2. In the context of the sharpening of the social contradictions that make their antagonisms more evident, these days the international situation highlights the escalation of confrontations in Ukraine, the high uncertainty of the arrival of the recession in several countries, the growth of inflation, the tightening of monetary policy, the anti-colonial struggle of the African countries, as well as the growth of strikes, work stoppages and in general of social mobilization against the countercyclical policies of the imperialists and their inter-state agencies.

3. The war in Ukraine, as one of the most relevant events of this period, is continuing to show that war is not a matter of the past and that the current confrontations are not less serious than some unbelievers still think. We are witnessing an increase in confrontations for economic and political domination of the world, in this case by the bloc formed by the US, the member countries of NATO against the bloc led by the Russian Federation, China, India and Iran. In the concrete scenario today this is in Ukraine, but with the danger of opening up to other parts of the planet such as the Baltic, southeast Asia or Latin America to maintain and raise the confrontation as a trend.

In this sense the world conflagration is imminent and is increasingly spurred on to the extent that new countries enter the confrontation and is taken up by the imperial powers as the most viable alternative to the serious economic and social crisis that plagues the capitalist world and that deeply hits the governance and "stability" of international financial oligarchy in the different countries.

Disturbing in the acute panorama are the permanent violations of human rights and international human rights, the inability of the UN and its specialized agencies, the growing hardening and militarization of states, as well as the arms race that is rising in all areas.

4. In economic matters, uncertainty and instability are increasing by leaps and bounds, showing the unbridled eagerness of the monopolies and banks to maintain maximum profit and increase the rate of profit.

High interest rates, rising taxes, austerity policies and tight restrictions on demand are becoming the main formulas of central banks and governments to curb the galloping inflation that affects most of the world's economies. The debt and its high interest rates are becoming a very strong noose for the dependent countries, mainly of Latin America, that are unable to comply with the dictates of the IMF, as well as of tracing a path of growth and development for their economies.

The slowdown of the Chinese and Russian economies, the recession in the US and the decline in most countries in Europe and Latin America account for the contraction of the world economy, estimates of the deepening of the crisis in 2023, as well as a possible economic crash or collapse similar to that of 1975 or 2008.

There are concerns about the high cost of fuels and the entire energy crisis associated with the use of hydrocarbons and coal that is becoming widespread and that encourages paralysis, the high cost of raw materials, fertilizers and food, in a context in which the interdependence of countries for their production and marketing is rising and deepening.

The neoliberal prescriptions promoted by the IMF and the WB, meekly accepted by the oligarchies of the different countries, barely satisfies the social needs that are deepening everywhere, the same happens with those who promote populist recipes or who call for consensus or the social pact (or class conciliation) as an alternative or solution to serious social problems. In times of crisis the gaze of the bourgeoisie becomes more short-term, reflecting its agony and inability to provide and satisfy social needs. Aggravated social and political problems, without a vision that makes it possible to face and get out of the crisis, the future of capitalism can only be that of greater agony, anarchy and uncertainty.

5. Another important aspect of the situation that must be further followed up are the great effects of climate change. Since the industrial revolution, the earth's temperature has increased rapidly due to the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions created by the growth of industrial activity, the burning of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal), the destruction of forests and other human activities. Those who study the matter point out that, with the increase in temperature, the poles melt, the sea level rises and the coastal populations will be mostly affected. Agriculture suffers and food security is at risk. Climatic phenomena are more intense, frequent and unpredictable.

In the midst of antagonism and war, anarchy and competition for supremacy on the globe and in cyberspace, as elements that characterize the current international situation in times of crisis, the efforts and goals agreed to internationally are fruitless and ineffective. Thus, while the will and practice of the imperialist powers, the monopolies and the oligarchies of our countries go in one direction, in the opposite direction affirmative actions work for the diversification of the energy matrix, investment in renewable energies (the increases in investment are not commensurate with international needs), reforestation and care of forests, rivers and aquifer formations, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), among other measures.

At this point we cannot fail to mention that today no country is exempt from the effects of pollution, hurricanes, tornadoes, strong winters, droughts, heat waves, etc. In addition, it must be a great concern of ours if we take into account what the UN said, when it points to Colombia as the third most vulnerable country in the world to climate change.

6. Without fully emerging from the Covid 19 pandemic, in the last year workers have suffered deeply from the effects of the inter-imperialist war in Ukraine, debt, high taxes, rising fuel prices, the large decline in their incomes, the energy crisis and inflation. Wages have been diminished, on the contrary the burdens and sufferings grow. Insecurity and the curtailment of rights and freedoms fall like a sledgehammer, disabling projects and possibilities of a better future. Education, health care, housing, healthy recreation and sports in a context of crisis are also hit hard and the efforts of the popular sectors to access them are greater.

In fact, the oppression and exploitation of the broad masses has increased and the all-sided scenario in which the different countries are developing and suffering shows greater levels of alienation and social alienation.

The profits of the monopolies have also increased and with it greater control and reactionization of the states by the financial oligarchies, who are the ones that make the greatest apology for fascism, authoritarian solutions and war in times of crisis.

As a result of war and pauperization, hunger and growing inequality, and in general of enslavement and lack of opportunities, the world is once again facing a wave of mass migrations, perhaps the largest in human history. Millions of migrants in different parts of the world are facing death, hunger and poverty. The US, Canada, Spain, the UK, Germany, India and Saudi Arabia rank first in terms of the number of immigrants. All the above factors are pushing humanity and nature to greater ruin and hopelessness, in equal measure the only and most just alternative is the revolution and socialism.

7. The panorama of recent months also highlights the resurgence of social mobilization in most countries of the world. We highlight the struggle for independence and sovereignty that is making its way in most African countries, which are courageously confronting French neocolonialism, the indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources, super-exploitation and the violation of individual and collective rights.

In the midst of the war, the absence of gas, the energy crisis, the rising inflationary wave and the arrival of winter, social unrest in Europe is growing, the rejection of the policies of the European economic community is widespread. Strikes, protests, work stoppages and mobilizations are growing and are having their effects. Several governments have fallen, others are about to fall as a result of the widespread rejection of the masses. The United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy appear among the countries with the highest number of demonstrators.

Although there are no policy changes in sight from most governments in Europe, confidence in the fruits of the strike and mobilization is beginning to develop among the unions and of the parties left. The immediate future therefore shows greater confrontation and the leading role of the workers in defining the European policies. Another region where protests stand out is in Latin America. Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Peru and Brazil have seen the highest number of demonstrators in recent months. The rise of the struggles of the masses is, however, quite widespread in all parts of the continent. The rejection of the high cost of living, high taxes, low wages, high costs of public services and transportation, and the budgetary cuts to health care, education, as well as subsidies for the most disadvantaged sectors are among the main causes of the growing mobilizations.

Relevant in the Latin American context is the victory of progressivism in countries such as Mexico, Chile, Bolivia and Colombia recently. Although they have not yet managed to demarcate lines with the neoliberal and populist policies that accompanied previous governments in their respective countries, the victory of these progressive candidates has made possible the raising of important popular banners and demands that continue to guide and mark the actions of the mass, democratic and leftist organizations.

The new electoral processes that are taking place in Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina and Venezuela highlight the contention in Latin America between those fascist-prone currents and defenders of US interference and the democratic, progressive and leftist currents. Although the dispersion among these currents has become very characteristic, we cannot ignore the role that each and every one of the members of these currents play in the global geopolitical contention, as in the outcome of the processes and confrontations that are taking place in each of the countries.

In the case of the political organizations identified by advanced thinking and those that make up this democratic, progressive and leftist tendency, the eagerness to enable greater mass leadership and achieve policies that bring about greater social relief in the midst of the crisis is highlighted.

The opening and strength of pro-fascist forces in Central America is disturbing. El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, for example, are a reflection of the growing and almost omnipotent power of these oligarchic forces.

It is also necessary to highlight the advances of the popular struggle in the US, the appearance in this country of numerous social and political organizations, the rejection in events and mobilizations against the Biden government, as well as the manipulation that he has been doing before the public opinion of the question of abortion, the defense of migrants and the right to work.

8. On the other hand, and striving to analyze the various situations in their proper context, we cannot lose sight of the danger that opportunist forces and especially social democracy in the region represent for democratic changes and the development of the various revolutionary processes.

Experience shows us that the bourgeoisie and all its parties and organizations adjust their discourse according to the pretensions they have as a class in power at a certain moment; in times of crisis their purpose is simply to strengthen their domination, opposing changes and the social revolution.

The opportunist forces likewise adjust their discourse and behavior, their purpose, whatever the manner in which they present themselves; overtly or covertly it is just to reconcile the working class with capitalism, to divide and accommodate the workers, their organizations and struggles in the interests of the ruling classes, to promote collaboration with the prevailing system, the state and its policies. They distinguish themselves because in exchange for and as a "prize" for their collaborationist action, they receive countless economic and political privileges.

In Latin America, many governments have been presided over by ideologues and agents representing opportunist forces, opposed to change and the social revolution; they take advantage of the difficulties and vicissitudes of capital to offer and provide their services and collaboration. In recent years, old and new theories have emerged that underpin the old revisionist and social democratic postulates, seeking to serve in some cases as a cushion, in others as a calming agent in the face of the crisis. Sustainable development, 21st century socialism, the citizens' revolution and humane capitalism are competing social democratic obfuscations in the region that are currently being used by different governments to cover up their bourgeois character, put the people to sleep, promote conciliation and distance them from the struggle for social change.

The progressive international, a variant of international social democracy, in which the current presidents of Mexico, Honduras, Colombia, Bolivia and Chile are active, defend these theories in different ways, but they agree in denying class antagonisms, promoting conciliation, pointing out as an unavoidable purpose in our societies the coming to agreement with the powerful (the oligarchs and imperialists) and the building of a peaceful democracy, friendly to life and the environment. In our concept it is another way of opposing the revolution and encouraging a "reform" of capitalism that accepts and leaves unscathed the profits of the great imperialist powers, the monopolies and finance capital.

Aware of this grave danger, the real forces of change, and especially the revolutionaries and as part of them the communists, have the historic challenge of unmasking in their content and forms, the old and new strategies and policies of agreement and collaboration of classes promoted by the opportunists and in the region the new representatives of social democracy who are advancing them. The current political scenario therefore reflects and fosters a complex and open struggle to win the masses and commit them to the defense and strengthening of a certain project.

On our part, in the perspective of power, we will join forces with democrats and revolutionaries who are preparing to deepen democracy, to raise social participation, confront neoliberalism and the imperialist policies, and in general with all the forces and organizations that fight hard to accumulate forces in favor of the workers and the people.

Seen in this way the panorama and the turbulence that characterizes it, the revolutionary forces must refine and strengthen our political link to the masses, in a perspective that highlights the transformations in favor of democracy, sovereignty and the social rights that the popular masses demand.

Corporation for Research and Popular Education – CIEP

1^ Vladimir I. Lenin. Imperialism, the highest stage of capitalism.

Towards Marxist-Leninist Unity (TMLU) statement at SIPRAL 27

THE INTER-IMPERIALIST STRUGGLE AND
THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN THE U.S.

Towards Marxist-Leninist Unity

The most important inter-imperialist struggle in the world today is the war in Ukraine. It is a war between the puppets (particularly the neo-fascist government of Zelensky) of the. US-NATO and Russia. Because we are in the US, we have to place emphasis on the struggle against "our own" ruling class, although we have to make it clear that Russia is also an imperialist country to which we cannot give any support.

Unfortunately, our so-called "left" is very weak and mostly confused on this issue. The Social Democrats, particularly the Social Democrats of America (DSA), including Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders support the war, and vote for all funding for the war.

Most of the so-called "anti-imperialist" groups, on the other hand, support Russia in the war, although some only attack the role of US-NATO, without any mention of Russia's role. This also does not help to clarify the nature of the war as a war of redivision.

Only a few groups, such as the comrades of the American Party of Labor, explain the war as an inter-imperialist one.

How does the war affect the situation of the workers and the class struggle?

For many years the ruling class has mostly been waging its wars without using its own troops. In Ukraine, as they say, it is fighting "to the last Ukrainian." In other parts of the world it is using its military technology as drones.

In Ukraine the U.S. government has spent $113 billion as of June of this year, on top of the highest military budget ever. There are only three methods of paying for it, all of which have a harmful effect on the living conditions of working people:

1) raising taxes, 2) cutting social benefits, and 3) printing money, which leads to inflation. The present government is mainly using the second and third methods, particularly the third, because this can disguise the connection between inflation and war.

The corresponding rise in prices has caused some complaints among the masses, and has helped a rise in the strike struggle and trade union organization. Members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have been on strike for nearly four months, and have been supported by film and television actors of SAG-AFTRA, who have been on strike since July 14. They only avoided a strike by UPS teamsters because of government pressure on the union, and with a contract with a combination of good and bad elements, which affect the many part-time workers. Now the 150,000 automobile workers are fighting for a new contract. They are trying to reverse the concessions they made during the 2008 recession. Many workers at Starbucks and other companies are also organizing into unions.

One problem is that most of the masses do not understand the relationship of the deterioration of their living conditions and the war in Ukraine, and they do not understand why the US government is supporting the Ukrainian puppet government against Russian imperialism. It is the duty of every revolutionary, of every Marxist-Leninist, to explain this and to organize against the war.

USA – end the to support the neo-fascist government in Ukraine!

Dismantle NATO!

Russia out of Ukraine!

Puerto Rican Communist Workers and Students for Social Change (TECCS) statement at SIPRAL 27

 PRESENTATION BY TECCS

Good afternoon. Revolutionary greetings from the Communist Workers and Students for Social Change (TECCS) of Puerto Rico. First of all, we want to establish that our organization was formed in the face of the political and ideological vacuum in which our country, Puerto Rico, as well as other countries in the world, finds itself. Our name responds to the desire to distinguish ourselves from other organizations that identify themselves as Marxist-Leninists and communists, which in their methods of struggles and practices use legalistic methods to achieve power, while leaving intact the political, legal and banking structures. that make up the system of capitalist exploitation. In our case, Puerto Rico, a classic colony, dominated by Yankee imperialism for 125 years (1898), there is the dynamic in the anti-imperialist struggle of sectors of the left, which put independence of Puerto Rico in the foreground, thus subordinating the class struggle.

For us in TECCS, it is not a question of "Yankee go home" to make way for the national local bourgeois capitalist aspirants who, in the name of love for the country, continue to exploit the working class. There are those who think that the anti-imperialist struggle is a revolutionary struggle and we want to clarify that being anti-imperialist does not make them anti-capitalist or revolutionary. Nor do we believe that it is necessary, once independence is achieved, to go through the process of anti-imperialist bourgeois democracy and then enter the phase of the dictatorship of the proletariat. There are currently 35 independent (neo-colonial) capitalist Latin American countries. Being an independent country does not mean being a country free from exploitation. Therefore, we as a colony advocate the independence of the working class to free itself from all exploitation, whether it is from imperialism or from the aspiring local bourgeoisie.

We are living in difficult times. The currents and winds are moving in another direction. Uncertainty reigns. We do not know the future. But what is clear is that no empire lasts forever. We are seeing that we are living in a time of the displacement of the most powerful empire by another in the history of mankind. A new world social and political order is being forged. The globalists with their imperial agenda enter into struggle to preserve their control and hegemony. Inter-imperialist rivalry is the order of the day. The old Soviet bloc has become the battleground for the resurgence of the world fascist movement, with the support of declining U.S. imperialism and NATO, which is best represented by its acronym (Nazi Alliance Terrorist Organization).

This reality is not new. The difference is that its opponent is the second nuclear military power, Russia, and the second economic world power, China.

What role do the communists play in this new historical, conjunctural reality?

What are we to do? Where are we going? What should our tactics and strategies be?

How should we look at the current historical reality? How should we look at the reformists, social democrats and liberals? Should united fronts be created with center-left organizations? Should we participate in elections? Can socialism or communism be achieved peacefully or by elections? Is there such a thing as revolutionary nationalism? Is there progressive capitalism? Is it necessary to pass through the stage of bourgeois democracy? Is it necessary to pass through stages from semi-feudalism to bourgeois democracy and then to socialism? Are some capitalists better than others? Is there a less bad imperialism? Does being anti-imperialist make you revolutionary? Is being progressive the same as being revolutionary or is being of the left the same as being communist? What should our position be as communists on the LGBTQX struggle? What should be our position on racism and ethnocentrism? What should be our position on Pan-Americanism and Pan-Africanism? What should be our position on ethnic, racial and national chauvinism? Is wage labor necessary in the stage of development to communism?

Should we apply the principles of historical and dialectical materialism with its historically proven science or do we venture into other unknown horizons? How should we interpret and analyze this new global reality? Is Russia imperialist?

Do Putin and the Russian Federation represent the working class?

As communists, what should be our answers to these questions? Can we speculate on the answers or let ourselves be guided by the science of historical and dialectical materialism? In our organization, Communist Workers and Students for Social Change, we prefer to count on the science of the principles of Marxism-Leninism with its proven history, which, with all its victories and failures, is the only social-economic science that corresponds to our reality known as the class struggle.

Comrades, these are just some of the many questions we have to ask ourselves. The answers are not easy, but it is up to us as revolutionary communists to search for these answers if we truly aspire to change and to a new communist society free of exploitation. We will make mistakes, but mistakes are not the same as betrayal. Only revolutionary practice applying the principles of historical and dialectical materialism will lead us towards victory.

As for our country, Puerto Rico, it is the example of a capitalist industrial colony that does not need to go through the stage of bourgeois democracy. However backward contemporary colonial and neocolonial countries may be, the national and international relations are capitalist in nature. Therefore, we must not fall into the trap of supporting anti-imperialist local bourgeoisies. Ultimately, history has shown that eventually these so-called progressive anti-imperialist sectors will defend, first and foremost, their class interests: the exploitative capitalist system. Such is the case of the inter-imperialist struggle between the Russian Federation, Ukraine, NATO and the USA, which are fighting for the best piece of the pie. Fascism is nothing but capitalism in crisis and the current war between Russia and Ukraine is the struggle for who will control world economic political hegemony. As workers and communists we must see the class struggle from an internationalist perspective and stand in solidarity with the world working class who are the victims. Our slogan, the workers' struggle has no borders, the working class has no borders, is on the order of the day. As well as the slogan of Marx and Engels, "Proletarians of the world unite. We have nothing to lose but our chains."

Long live communism! War on war!

Long live proletarian internationalism!