Crisis of Capitalism, The GLOBALIZATION And answer of the
working movement.*

Samir Seifan - Syria

The phenomenon of Globalization
Although the term Globalization has become enormously
popular in the last few years, the phenomenon itself is not
but a new nomination of an old phenomenon being promoted
within new circumstances. Globalization is a continuation
of the expansionist character of capitalism instigated by
the gigantic development of science and technology (forces
of production), within the framework of agreeable
conditions following the collapse of the socialist camp, as
well as the opening up of china to capitalist expansion.
The world expansionist nature of capital was one of the
bases of Marx theory ; and Lenin analyzed it in his well
known book � Imperialism : Highest Stage of Capitalism � .

What is facing us now is a qualitatively new stage of
capitalist expansion characterized by novel essential
features related to the complete maturity of the world
capitalist system. Marx prophecy about the global nature of
the capitalist system was true the degree that Marx was not
internationalist (globalist) only theoretically, but he
together with his other comrades , established the first
global organization in the world ( i.e. The communist
International).

Despite the fact that the USA, at the head of the big
capitalist countries, is manipulating capitalist
globalization, the phenomenon itself, with its objective
aspect , is the outcome of scientific and technological
development , not the product of capitalism .The process,
therefore, will go on. Even if world socialism were
victorious, the globalization of production, distribution,
exchange as well as the opening up of all the economies,
cultures and regimes of the world would proceed forward,
with some variations in socio-political character. Thus it
is impossible to avoid globalization which, objectively,
involves the whole world, despite all its current
contradictions, and all the impetuousness of US aggression
on the world in the various economic, political, military,
mediatic and cultural fields.

*The International Meeting of the Communist and Workers
Parties
Athens on May 21-23.1999

It is impossible to reduce corporations to the sizes of
national markets, or to re-close markets and restrict
production and exchange within narrow national frameworks;
nor restrict communication and transportation networks
within national state borders; neither the solution of many
economic, social, political and environmental problems, is
possible at the national level alone. The very objective
aspect of globalization is the outcome of scientific and
technological development, though its socio-political
expression is the product of the hegemonic capitalist
forces.

The enormous development of the productive forces does
gradually alter the relations of productions to a great
extent; the very spread of production over the globe
debilitates it national identity, and increases the
contribution of capital from several countries to the
capital of the multi-national corporations. The increase in
the number of share- holders together with similar
phenomena does level the ground for further great changes
in the future.
The question is:
Will globalization be the acme of world capitalist
development which will bring about the conditions of
transcending the capitalist system itself, paving the way
to a higher stage of economic, social and political
development to the benefit of mankind??

Globalization contradictions
A host of contradictions does currently govern global
capitalism; scientific and technological progress greatly
raises labour productivity while wages and other social
privileges are reduced, labour hours frozen. The share of
labour compared to the increased one of capital is
decreased in the distribution of the outcome, while capital
is intensified, people are driven out of the process of
production. On the other hand , the forces of liberal
capitalism raise a wave of urgent claims about the
necessity of granting capital all kinds of facilities and
tax-exemptions while imposing further taxes on the
population under the system of the so-called � value added
tax �. The activity of the multi motional expands to
include the whole globe. They merge in an ever decreasing
number of companies and trusts concentrating most of their
assets in the hands of an ever decreasing number of big
owner's, rendering the universal character of their
activity in stark contradiction with the national basis of
their ownership and administration. All that multiplies the
tension of the main contradiction between the social
characters of the production process, and its individual
nature which is based on private property.
While the destiny of all the population of the globe
becomes more interconnected, individual values are promoted
and selfish instincts are urged to their extreme limits.
Under the conditions of capitalist chaos or reckless
freedom, financial speculation becomes more profitable than
productive processes, leading to the imbalance of the
economic cycle whose destructive effects are clear in the
whole series of current financial and economic crises.
The insistence on the reduction of the role of the state,
relegating much of its social and economic functions to the
private sector, leaves societies without their main
instrument of managing the developmental process. The
experience of the Asian Tigers which in often cited to
prove the authenticity of globalization prescriptions is an
example of the main developmental role of the state; while
the fading of the state in many societies made up of
regions clams, and ethnic groups are threatened with the
danger of being fragmented. We are witnessing that the
advance of globalization in accompanied by a regular
process of fragmentation , e.g. USSR , chekoslovakia and
Yugoslavia now whose tragedy in just unfolding . Besides ,
fragmentation does in fact threaten many countries in the
world .
such The Sudan, India, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, Italy,
Britain, France and Spain.
Great globalization forces try to impose their own economic
and social prescriptions on the other nations of the world
through the use of the great pressure means at their
disposal; they push them towards joining global agreements,
opening their borders to the free movement of goods and
capital according to the conditions of the big, not those
suitable to their own development, in spite of the high
social and even developmental costs of such obligatory
options which undermine developmental potentials .

The spread of production units and investments outside the
traditional capitalist centers to other parts of the world
including the countries of the south provides the chance
of growth to some of the less developed areas of the world.
Yet, such a possibility remains governed by the rules of
capitalist polarization and marginalization, whereby a few
grow at the expense of the majority. With the exception on
Israel , all the regions of the Middle East and Africa are
being marginalized .
The contradiction between the absolute freedom of the
market and social justices currently acquires an enormous
destructive power unless there is a strong state to check
and regulate the forces of capital ; unless there are trade
unions and civil society organization to maintain a certain
degree of social balance, and control this contradiction so
that it does not explode.
Social justice is an issue that can not be decided be the
forces of absolutely free markets; it is, rather , a
question whose solution is dependent on the social forces
which struggle for it.
These days there are serious attempts to weaken the unions,
such attempts are loaded with the danger of higher degrees
of social disorder. Such policies in general to lead to the
rise of the forces of chauvinism , reaction and xenophobia
in the north, and to the advance of obscurantism and
fundamentalism in the south.]
Although the Cold War has ended, NATO is being expanded
instead of dissolving it; arms are stockpiled instead of
destroying them ; attempts are made to disarm others so
that the big bosses of globalization, USA in particular,
which are eager to impose their military hegemony over the
world, can monopolize all sorts of armaments .
The great social values of democracy and human rights are
being used eclectically for political purposes. While
political democracy is upheld , socio-economic democracy in
undermined. No one can deny that the monopoly of wealth
inevitably leads to the monopoly of politics as well.
All current conditions encourage conflict among the major
parties of globalization. The extremely liberal Anglo-Saxon
pattern which is being currently imposed clashes with both
the European pattern which is based on what is called the
social market and the Japanese household model (the last
banana war as well as the war over American meat, the wars
of American films and songs , the Kosovo War itself are but
a few examples ). Though hesitant France is trying to lead
Europe in this struggle.
By now it has become clear that be amelioration of
capitalism's thrust after 1917 and 1945 was only an
obligatory temporal tactic.
Despite its efforts to manage its crisis, the
contradictions of capitalism provide a � solid base for
escalated social confrontation.

Confrontation
The capitalist character of globalization is, for the time
being, on the rise; several years of time should pass
before it begins to retreat.
The collapse of the socialist experience as well as the
great imbalance of forces, render some leftists lose hope
and join the camp of globalization, while they push other
leftist groups to stubbornly stick to the whole former
socialist experience without any critical attitude. If the
first stand serves the interests of capital, the example of
the former socialist experience is not valid to build a new
socialist future. The importance of the former socialist
experience lies in studying it to learn lessons taking
capitalism's great capability of adjustment into
consideration.
No matter how deep its contradictions, and how appealing
the calls to avoid it and remain far form it are,
globalization objectively involves all with out exception.
It's objective aspect manifested in the continued process
of the integration of the different parts of the world,
will go on in spite of all the socio-political changes that
might occur in the following years. The only viable way
that remains is to be active with in such a global
environment, but through a clear national policy based on a
clear national developmental strategy. Such a way is in
fact available thanks to may present international
conditions.
The antagonistic capitalist contradictions are so complex
that their solution within capitalism itself is impossible.
It is clear that Rosa Luxembourg's � Either socialism or
barbarism � is still topical and resounding.
To forge a new alternative socialist path in a main
challenge facing all forces of the left at both national
and international levels; such a path should be based on
the principles of:
Political, social and economic democracy,
2-controlled market economy and
3-direct popular ownership.
The direct p0puler ownership is the very care of the new
perception for it still is the essence of the social
system. It means holding the keys of economic
administration as well as the distribution of the available
resources among the people, the determination of all forms
of governmental and social administration, the guidance of
literature , culture and information within certain
directions, especially after the industry of all kinds of
culture has recently become badly in need of specific
institutions , technologies and great amounts of
investment.
Forces of capitalist globalization have great possibilities
to exercise influence.
And with the increase of their universal character, the
forces of the left can not confront them at an isolated
national level with no coordinated international action
involving all the interested social strata which represent
the majorities of most societies in the world especially
because their economic power covers the world with all it
mass media, culture communication etc. through which they
distort facts, deform perceptions , and create false dreams
.
The flow of information and images through modern media and
means of communication in an incomparable force which
enables those who hold it to control people's mind. Such a
situation faces the forces of the left with the difficult
tasks of looking for available means of influencing public
opinion and mobilizing masses to defend their program, to ,
definitely , pull the citizen out of abyss of pacifism in
which capitalist media and institutions try to imprison him
, and give him a push towards social action and militancy
. Trade unions remain the suitable organizational machine,
which must be strongly supported against all those who try
to reduce their influence.
It is also necessary to promote an international trade
union solidarity which crosses all the borders of language,
culture, race etc.. Against the really cosmopolitan capital
which recognizes no frontiers.
To promote the alliance of all workers, civil servants,
intellectuals, students, women, young people, middle
strata, as well as all other concerned social groups hurt
by the assault of global capitalism, and to coordinate with
the left wings of the Social Democrat political parties,
despite the rightist attitudes of their frustrating right
-wing leaders as testified by the example of the aggression
against Serbia, are the way leading to the formation of a
broad front involving all those who are hurt by capitalist
globalization , in protest against capitalist encroachment
. It is natural that coordination, cooperation and
consultation among all the communist and labour parties in
the world are necessary conditions for such protest.
Capitalism, which has united its world front, can be
confronted only by a parallel intentional front. The needed
path remains the path of � Socialist internationalism �
instead of capitalist globalization.
The whole Word number of this word is 2225
The Words number in shadows is 498
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