People's Democracy

 86TH ANNIVERSARY OF OCTOBER REVOLUTION

RESISTANCE TO IMPERIALISM INTENSIFIES

 Prakash Karat

THE anniversary of the world's first socialist revolution in Russia is a good occasion to assess the world situation in terms of the struggle against imperialism. The October revolution of 1917 was the world's first genuine anti-imperialist revolution.  It is this victory over imperialism which opened the way for the wave of anti-imperialist struggles in the twentieth century.  As we observe the  86th  anniversary of this historic revolution, the world is faced with a resurgent imperialism represented by the United States which seeks to  impose its global hegemony on the world. 

Last year, when the 85th anniversary of the October revolution was observed, the United States was preparing for its war on Iraq designed to occupy the country.  Since then, the US committed aggression on Iraq and occupied it. All through this period, the rightwing ideologues dominating the US ruling circles were openly talking about the role of America as the new imperial power. The conquest of Iraq should have been the pinnacle of the display of American imperial power.  The occupation of Iraq has not led to the fulfillment of this imperial optimism. In fact, the facile assumptions about American power and the limits of its imperial might have been exposed. 

America's imperial ambitions were expressed, after September 11, 2001, through its so-called global war against terrorism. It is under this rubric that the United States launched its renewed drive for global domination. First came the war on Afghanistan, followed by the war on Iraq.  During this period, America extended its global military presence to new areas. There are American troops in Central Asia, in places like Uzbekistan and Kyrgystan.  In South East Asia, US troops have once again been stationed in the Philippines and the US is reviving its military ties with the Indonesian armed forces. It has encouraged Japan to give up its non-military, pacifist role enshrined in its Constitution.  South Asia also became a focus for US intervention.  The US has a permanent military presence in Afghanistan; it has solidified its military ties with Pakistan; it has entered into a series of military cooperation agreements with Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal.  And, in the biggest country in the region, India, under the Vajpayee government, strategic military collaboration is underway. 

The US cannot tolerate any country or government which defies its dictates.  The other two countries, apart from Iraq, who were declared by President Bush as part of the "axis of evil" -- North Korea and Iran -- are being targeted for seeking to develop their nuclear technology.

The United States, as the world's most powerful capitalist country, continues to be a threat for all countries and peoples who wish to maintain their independence, sovereignty and undertake social transformation without imperialist interference.  It will be totally incorrect to underplay its threat in any manner. The "war on terrorism" has actually led to the growth of terrorist violence all around the world.

At the same time, the picture is not all one-sided.  It does not call for only gloom and disappointment.  The developments which have taken place in the recent period indicate that the forces which can put up resistance to imperialism do exist and their role in shaping events are unfolding.

Firstly, the biggest imperialist adventure in recent times, i.e., the war and occupation of Iraq, has put the United States in serious difficulties. Secondly, the US war on Iraq has opened up contradictions with other imperialist countries like France and Germany and capitalist Russia.  Thirdly, the struggle within the WTO, as seen in the Cancun ministerial summit, reflects the contradictions between imperialism and the developing countries. Fourthly, the steady advance of China, as an economic power, is exercising its weight on the international situation and will play a greater role in the future.  All the above factors must be taken into account if we are to have a proper understanding on how the struggle against imperialism can be carried forward in the coming days.

The US intervention in the Middle East occupies the centre stage in the struggle against imperialism.  The growing resistance of the Iraqi people against American occupation is essentially nationalist and anti-imperialist in character.  It is based on the long traditions of fighting against British colonialism which shaped modern Iraq in the twentieth century.  Six months after the occupation, the American forces are facing a spate of attacks — a ravaging 25 a day.  At least one American soldier dies every day in Iraq.  

The United States, which arrogantly thought it could unilaterally and single-handedly invade and occupy Iraq ignoring the United Nations, is today pleading with all countries of the world to send troops to help it in Iraq.  These efforts are not going to bale it out in the short term.  Even getting some countries to send troops will prove counterproductive.  It is ironical that Mongolia has sent 200 soldiers to Iraq.  The people of Baghdad have memories of the Mongols invading and sacking the city in the year 1258. Turkey's decision to send 10,000 troops is vigorously opposed by the Governing Council set-up by the Americans themselves.  For the Iraqi people, Turkish troops would be an unwelcome reminder of their earlier colonial status under the Turkish Ottoman empire.  The Americans find themselves in a quagmire in Iraq.  The other hotspot is Palestine. The grand plans of the US for a "road map" for peace lie shattered.  The Israeli-US plans to decapitate the Palestinian leadership by sidelining Yasser Arafat have failed.  The tenacious struggle of the Palestinian people has not been suppressed, despite the brutal use of military force by Israel which acts as the  chief agent for the United States in West Asia.

The brutal assault in the Middle East has led to the surfacing of inter-imperialist contradictions in a manner not seen since the end of the Soviet Union. Despite the United Nations adopting a unanimous resolution asking member countries to send troops to Iraq under a US command, France, Germany and Russia are in no mood to oblige the United States.  The United States was given an abject lesson by its imperialist allies that it can go it alone, only at a price too heavy to pay.

The struggle of the developing countries against the imperialist order came into sharp focus with the Cancun ministerial summit of the WTO in September this year.  The unity of the developing countries took place because some of the major countries like China, India, South Africa and Brazil came to an understanding.   This unity helped in resisting the agenda sought to be imposed by the rich countries. 

On the political plane, the United States continues its hostile activities against recalcitrant third world countries. Here again, the resistance to US intervention and the imperialist-driven globalisation policies are building up. In Latin America, President Chavez  of Venezuela has fought back all attempts to destabilise his government.  In Bolivia, recently, the rightwing President was forced to resign after a mass popular upsurge against the decision to export natural gas and the policies of privatisation. The very fact that no major third world country (outside the American alliance) has agreed to send troops to Iraq to aid the US occupation shows the increasing wariness about the designs of American imperialism.

China saw steady economic advances all through the decade of the 1990s.  It is set to accomplish a growth rate of 8.5 per cent in the current year.  According to a recent estimate, if this  rate of growth continues, China will overtake  France and Germany by the year 2005 to become the world's fourth largest economy. The first three being the United States, Japan and Russia.  The increasing weight of China is being felt in world events. Its joining of the WTO has strengthened the position of the developing countries.   In South East Asia, more and more countries are looking up to China rather than the US for economic and trade ties. During the recent Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Bangkok, it was noted that America is not the sole power to exercise influence in the South-East Asian region, it has to share this role with China. 

The importance of China emerging as a strong power cannot be underestimated. It will have a profound impact and strengthen the trends towards multi-polarity as against a unipolar world dominated by the United States. The struggle of the other socialist countries like Vietnam and Cuba to develop or safeguard their social system is inter-linked to China's quest for developing itself economically and consolidating the socialist State.

It is in this framework of developments that we must rededicate ourselves to the legacy of the October revolution. In India, the struggle to check the growing influence of US imperialism within our country is the link with the ongoing worldwide trends to resist American hegemony.  The success of the opposition to sending Indian troops to Iraq is an important gain. The BJP-led government has been systematically working to establish a strategic relationship with the United States and tailor its policies to America's global strategy.   Recognising this danger to our independence and sovereignty and mobilising the people to oppose this link-up by our ruling classes becomes a foremost task for the Left and democratic forces.