I've recently listened to two 1969 retrospectives of France in May 1968: the Kidon-Mandel debate (where Kidron says that there was no real crisis, since the masses were easily co-opted) and Tom Kerry from the US SWP saying it's a model for how a revolution can happen in an advanced country.
Kerry takes issue with the various theorists and political commentators had written off the French working class as "hopeless" and "co-opted by the establishment." They believed workers were not capable of revolutionary success, especially in advanced industrial countries, because of capitalism's strong position at the height of the long boom.
For Kerry, the May 1968 events dramatically challenged this view. For Kidron, they confirmed it. The general strike and student-worker uprising demonstrated that the working class could still be a powerful revolutionary force. Kerry argues that these events proved workers were not passive, but could be mobilized and were deeply dissatisfied with the existing political and economic system.
The long-term impact, as suggested by Kerry, included:
- Fracturing of the French Communist Party
- Potential for building a new revolutionary formation
- Inspiring workers to recognize their own power
- Challenging prevailing theories about working-class revolutionary potential
The events showed that workers could be radicalized even during a period of apparent economic prosperity, contradicting earlier pessimistic assessments about their revolutionary capacity..
Kidron was a bit too close to the microphone, and the sound 'blows out' from time in a way people might find too harsh. Here are some notes:
In a nuanced analysis of global capitalism, Michael Kidron challenges traditional Marxist perspectives on systemic crisis. While acknowledging capitalism's inherent contradictions, Kidron argues that the system is not in a state of fundamental collapse.
Kidron highlights key observations:
Revolutionary Potential
The revolutionary party is significantly weaker than during the Bolshevik era
Major worker uprisings, like the 1968 French protests, were ultimately absorbed by capitalism
Capitalism demonstrates remarkable adaptability in managing social tensions
Economic Dynamics
Capitalism continues to expand, with rising profit rates
The system can neutralize worker discontent through strategic wage management
Both Western and Eastern bureaucracies share similar accumulation imperatives
Global Revolutionary Movements
Revolutions in underdeveloped countries often fail due to lack of external resources
Decreasing economic interdependence between developed and developing nations weakens revolutionary potential
National liberation movements are isolated and can be co-opted
Kidron's analysis suggests that while capitalism faces ongoing challenges, it remains resilient and capable of managing internal contradictions. The revolutionary transformation many anticipated has not materialized, and the system continues to adapt and survive.
I've recently listened to two 1969 retrospectives of France in May 1968: the Kidon-Mandel debate (where Kidron says that there was no real crisis, since the masses were easily co-opted) and Tom Kerry from the US SWP saying it's a model for how a revolution can happen in an advanced country.
Kerry takes issue with the various theorists and political commentators had written off the French working class as "hopeless" and "co-opted by the establishment." They believed workers were not capable of revolutionary success, especially in advanced industrial countries, because of capitalism's strong position at the height of the long boom.
For Kerry, the May 1968 events dramatically challenged this view. For Kidron, they confirmed it. The general strike and student-worker uprising demonstrated that the working class could still be a powerful revolutionary force. Kerry argues that these events proved workers were not passive, but could be mobilized and were deeply dissatisfied with the existing political and economic system.
The long-term impact, as suggested by Kerry, included:
- Fracturing of the French Communist Party
- Potential for building a new revolutionary formation
- Inspiring workers to recognize their own power
- Challenging prevailing theories about working-class revolutionary potential
The events showed that workers could be radicalized even during a period of apparent economic prosperity, contradicting earlier pessimistic assessments about their revolutionary capacity..
Kidron was a bit too close to the microphone, and the sound 'blows out' from time in a way people might find too harsh. Here are some notes:
In a nuanced analysis of global capitalism, Michael Kidron challenges traditional Marxist perspectives on systemic crisis. While acknowledging capitalism's inherent contradictions, Kidron argues that the system is not in a state of fundamental collapse.
Kidron highlights key observations:
Revolutionary Potential
The revolutionary party is significantly weaker than during the Bolshevik era
Major worker uprisings, like the 1968 French protests, were ultimately absorbed by capitalism
Capitalism demonstrates remarkable adaptability in managing social tensions
Economic Dynamics
Capitalism continues to expand, with rising profit rates
The system can neutralize worker discontent through strategic wage management
Both Western and Eastern bureaucracies share similar accumulation imperatives
Global Revolutionary Movements
Revolutions in underdeveloped countries often fail due to lack of external resources
Decreasing economic interdependence between developed and developing nations weakens revolutionary potential
National liberation movements are isolated and can be co-opted
Kidron's analysis suggests that while capitalism faces ongoing challenges, it remains resilient and capable of managing internal contradictions. The revolutionary transformation many anticipated has not materialized, and the system continues to adapt and survive.