Re: [OPE] Marx: 'The Possibility of Non-Violent Revolution'

Jerry: **Has there ever been a ruling class in history which has voluntarily surrendered their privileged position and wealth?**   Has there ever been a socialist revolution in history which has voluntarily surrendered the bureaucraticprivileges and wealth of a minority of revolutionaries?   The quotation of Bakunin is particularly pertinent in support of my concern.   Regards,A. Agafonow ________________________________ De: GERALD LEVY <gerald_a_levy@msn.com> Para: Outline on Political Economy mailing list <ope@lists.csuchico.edu> Enviado: lunes, 12 de enero, 2009 1:11:07 Asunto: RE: [OPE] Marx: 'The Possibility of Non-Violent Revolution' Hi Alejandro:   Has there ever been a ruling class in history which has voluntarily surrendered their privileged position and wealth?  If the working class and its allies defend themselves from violent assaults by that ruling class, is that "violence"?  I would call it *self-defense*.   In *that* sense, revolutions can be (and some have been) non-violent. It is entirely possible, *providing* the working class actually is prepared to defend themselves as a class.   The whole whole right-wing discourse over "non-violent revolution" takes for granted that revolutions are violent. Never do they talk about the everyday violence against working people by capital and the state. In the movie "Rosa Luxemburg" (1987), the main character (played by Barbara Sukowa) spoke eloquently to these points.     In solidarity, Jerry   PS: a contemporary example for why self-defense is necessary - and who is really responsible for the violence - can be seen from the following story: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4096%c2  When the people of this nation defend theselves (if necessary, with lethal force) from right-wing attacks, then they might be engaged in a non-violent revolution.

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Received on Mon Jan 12 03:50:17 2009