Enemy is Capitalism

The New Socialist Magazine, March / April 2001


After enduring over two decades of neo-liberal policies, it is a sweet sight to see the rulers of the world running for cover behind militarized zones every time they meet. Ever since the "battle of Seattle", a new wave of activism in opposition to neo-liberal globalization has been gaining momentum. At the end of April, as the representatives of American states (excluding Cuba) gather in fortress Quebec City to further develop their plan for the creation of a free trade zone in the Americas, thousands of activists will be descending on the city to express their opposition to neo-liberalism.

The rise of this new wave of activism should be celebrated, not least of all because it is an implicit rejection of the view that there is no alternative to the unimpeded rule of capitalist markets. Already, there are signs that the mobilizations of the past sixteen months have had enough impact to force "world leaders" to at least verbally change their tune and address issues of global poverty and inequality. This may lead people to believe that what is needed to make trade pacts palatable and force corporations to behave "responsibly" is the inclusion of social clauses, labour rights and environmental protection policies in multilateral trade agreements.

While we should force as many concessions from capitalist states and corporations as we possibly can under the existing conditions, i.e. under capitalism, we must, at the same time, organize to fundamentally change those conditions. This is because the issues that concern many of us - environmental degradation, exploitation, oppression, commodification of our lives, lack of democratic control, etc. - are not simply the product of bad policies or the irresponsibility of multi-national corporations. They are the direct result of the normal workings of capitalism.

Capitalist profit maximization has always resulted in an increasing disparity of income and life opportunities between a small minority of very wealthy individuals who own and control the wealth of nations and the vast majority of people who have to sell their labour to these capitalists. This gulf between the rich and the poor in each nation is replicated globally, producing increasingly richer and poorer nations, leaving millions of people in abject poverty. Profit maximization also comes into conflict with environmental protection. That corporations consistently oppose or violate environmental protection regulations -as feeble and limited as these are-is precisely because profitability objectives are incompatible with such regulations. It is no wonder that the world capitalist system has inflicted such an extensive damage to the environment in scarcely more than two centuries.

Thus, if we are truly interested in a world free of exploitation, oppression, poverty, environmental degradation and so on, we must look not for alternative policies within the existing capitalist system but an alternative to capitalism.

With this in mind, it is high time that anti-capitalist radicals unite in a democratic political organization which reflects the racial and ethnic diversity of our society at every level. Such an organization would have to be genuinely opposed to all forms of oppression and exploitation and promote the highest level of mutual cooperation and interaction among people in different nations. NEW SOCIALIST is committed to helping build such a broad anti-capitalist organization, while also working to renew socialism from below - the politics that we believe can best guide struggles against capitalism.

The mobilizations in Quebec City on april 20 to 22 need to be built. This is an important opportunity for anti-capitalists to work with other people on a common goal and to discuss with them the links between the FTAA and capitalism. However, if we don't want Quebec City to become a mere symbolic act, we need to continue the struggle afterwards in our workplaces and communities. As the recent strike at York University (see article in this issue) shows, gains can be won from bosses and governments even in these times. Victories and experiences of fighting together draw new people into struggle and inspire activists to continue the fight, pushing it to new levels.

To believe that there is an alternative is to believe that struggle is not futile is to believe that victory is possible. Mobilize to win!