People's Democracy

13TH INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF COMMUNIST AND WORKERS' PARTIES

Work for Alternative to Capitalism: Yechury

THE 13th International Meeting of the Communist and Workers' Parties had commenced in Athens, Greece on December 9, 2011. The three-day meeting began with the speech of Aleka Papariga, general secretary of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), which is hosting the event. Sitaram Yechury, member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M), who is attending the meeting on behalf of the Party, had taken part in the discussions.

Yechury began his intervention by extending revolutionary greetings to all the parties and comrades who were participating in the meeting. He also expressed his profound thanks to the KKE for the excellent arrangements and working conditions. He said that he was very happy to be participating in the meeting in Athens as “this process of International meetings returns to Athens after travelling across the globe and strengthened in terms of participation”.

Yechury stated that the 13th meeting is taking place in the midst of growing global protests where for the  first time, in a growing manner, people other than communists are questioning the sustainability of the capitalist system. He expressed militant solidarity with the Greek comrades and people who are leading these struggles. “We are fortunate to be here in Greece in the midst of these rising struggles”.

Stating that this year's theme has three important aspects of which one concerns the experience of communists 20 years after the counter-revolution in the USSR. He asserted “this counter-revolution does not in anyway negate either the revolutionary science of Marxism-Leninism or the pursuit of the socialist ideal.  This happened due to:

a)     major shortcomings in the process of construction of socialism;

b)    wrong assessments of international balance of forces – underestimation of imperialism/capitalism and overestimation of socialism, and,

c)     deviations from the scientific/revolutionary tenets of Marxism-Leninism.”

Coming to the second aspect of the theme, Yechury stated that these developments permitted imperialism to launch an all out aggressive attack to strengthen its global hegemony – economic, political, military, cultural and ideological. “Despite this immense advantage capitalism is resoundingly proving itself as a system that can never be an exploitation free or crisis free system. All these conclusions that the CPI(M) and many others arrived at are resoundingly vindicated today”.

Expressing his opinions on the development of class struggle in conditions of the present capitalist crisis, he stated “the character and genesis of the current crisis has been analysed in our adopted declarations of our 10th, 11th and 12th  meetings.

“Every effort by global capitalism to overcome its crisis lays the basis for a new deeper crisis. Each such effort destroys a part of the productive forces and, importantly, further intensifies exploitation of the people. This is cruelly seen in the current conversion of corporate insolvencies into sovereign insolvencies that are imposing these 'austerity measures', and this is meeting with growing resistance globally, with tangible gains in Latin America. 'Anti-Wall Street' protests have begun questioning the capitalist system – not faults within the system but a faulty system.”

Yechury emphasised on the need to strengthen proletarian internationalism and the anti-imperialist front for the overthrow of capitalism and the construction of socialism. “For this, it is an important task for all the communist and workers' parties to co-ordinate the growing localised and diverse struggles – from against imperialist military aggressions to those against growing economic onslaughts and forge them into a powerful global anti-imperialist movement, while sharpening class struggles domestically to strengthen the political alternative of socialism”.

Yechury said these struggles will necessarily go through various phases and stages on diverse issues depending upon the concrete conditions in our countries. Quoting Lenin, he said, “concrete analysis of concrete conditions is the living essence of dialectics”.

Giving an example from India, he said “I came here after our parliament forced the government to virtually roll back the decision to allow foreign capital from entering the retail trade sector. This sector employs nearly 50 million people. With their families this means nearly 250 million depend on this sector for their livelihood. Walmart, therefore, cannot enter India as of now.

“We mobilise our people on grounds of asking the government to stop 'stimulus' or 'bail-out' packages and instead spend these amounts as public investments which will generate jobs, expand domestic demand and lead to a sustainable growth trajectory. Some ask us why we are offering solutions to capitalism when we seek its overthrow! We offer these solutions because the bourgeoisie will never accept them as this path does not give instant super-profits that State sponsored bailout packages and intensified exploitation offer. By raising such demands we mobilise people thus strengthening our political alternative”.

Further, “such struggles of course must dovetail to strengthen class struggles for the overthrow of capitalism”.

Yechury opined that “the objective conditions to achieve this are growing favourably but as Lenin taught us the decisive factor for revolutionary success is the strengthening of the 'subjective factor' – united struggles of all exploited classes under the leadership of the working class wedded to the revolutionary tenets of Marxism – Leninism.  This is our fundamental task”.

Yechury ended his intervention by stating that “Socialism is inevitable in the historical vision. It can be delayed but can never be denied. How soon will this happen depends upon us. Let us rise to the occasion.

The question is no longer: Is there a future for socialism?

 SOCIALISM ALONE IS THE FUTURE”.

The meeting concluded on December 11 after adoption of the final statement following discussion and incorporation of opinions of the delegates.

(INN)