Dubious roots of Capitalism

The collapse of the Soviet Union has popularly been equated with the death of socialism.  Capitalism is seen as the victor is this battle between the two supposedly mutually antagonistic grand theories of the past two centuries. Francis Fukiyama went so far as to talk about the end of History. In the popular (modernist) view of history we are progressing along a linear path which will one day take us to a perfect society. In the view of Fukiyama  and like  mind thinkers, we have come to the end of that path. Capitalism’s triumph proves it to be capable of solving the worlds problems and bringing us into utopia.  In truth however Capitalism however is built on very shaky foundations.

Before I go any further let me make clear that I am not a communist. Both capitalism and communism assume that the ordinary citizens  of the world are unable to manage the abundant resources of the planet without  some sort of outside intervention.  Both assume that some specialist knowledge, which the ordinary citizen lacks is required to successfully manage these resources. Both create an elite class who eventually assume control of all resources and thus the control of society.

Historically capitalism has its roots in some remarkably  dubious enterprises. It was the wholesale destruction and pillage of the civilizations of the Americas that provide  Europe with immense amounts of gold and began the cycle of accumulation that allowed to Europe dominate the world through the ensuing centuries.  Europeans justified their  destruction of the wealthy and thriving Aztec civilization on moral  grounds.  They  feigned disgust at the Aztec practice of human sacrifice- and while I do not defend this barbaric practice- we would do well to remember that at the time it was common practice in Europe to burn alive those who did not adhere to  rigid religious and social norms. The gold of the Aztecs and the Incas funded the voyages of exploration which extended European influence to the far reaches of the globe.

 The same hypocrisy was applied to the enterprise of claiming North America for the supposedly  superior white race.  Once the American Indians had been destroyed, they turned to Africa. Slavery decimated Africa and by placing a monetary value on human life  created an environment of extreme savagery where Africans were hunted as animals and turned on one another for economic gain.   Millions of Africa’s strongest and brightest were ripped from their land and  their families. Africa has never recovered from this desecration.

  The modern institutions of capitalism, the banks and the insurance companies evolved during this time. The first letters of credit were issued to slavers.  The first “goods’ to be insured were African slaves. There are many documented cases where slaves who had become to sickly or troublesome to bring a profit were dumped in the sea, allowing the slavers to claim insurance and thus ensure the profitability of their venture. Europeans today  insist on seeing slavery as an historical aberration,  which has no bearing on the modern world, and continue to view Africa as backward and savage. They refuse  to acknowledge that Africa is a land of proud and ancient heritage and that it was the brutality of slavery and later colonialism that robbed Africa of this heritage, leading it on the path to poverty and conflict. The roots of the vast inequity in the modern world lies in the actions of the slavers and the colonists. The economic and cultural domination of Europe and America through the last five centuries, and the system which perpetuates it is built, quite literally, in the blood, the labour and the bones of the civilizations it has destroyed.

The modern capitalist system continues  this tradition of exploitation and plunder. Those who benefit from this system owe a huge unpaid debt to the people of these societies. It is time they started looking for ways to repay this debt rather than entrapping them in further debt.

In conclusion I leave you the words of Walter Benjamin to ponder: " Those who currently rule are however the heirs of all those who have ever been victorious ...... Whoever until this day emerges victorious, marches in the triumphal procession in which today's rulers tread over those who are sprawled underfoot. The spoils are as was ever the case, carried along in the triumphal procession." ( From "On the Concept of History" which can be found at:

http://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/benjamin/1940/history/htm
 

WHO Liberated South Africa???

The present leaders of the  ANC have made it very clear that they  regard it  as the exclusive bearer of the heritage of  the country’s liberation struggle--that they believe that the ANC singlehandedly freed us from the oppression of the apartheid regime. They need a lesson in history---. Pressure was brought to bear on the apartheid regime from many sources external and internal. It was a combination of these pressures that forced the regime to the realisation that the cost of maintaining apartheid was untenable and would unavoidably lead to civil war and economic ruination. Ultimately it was the mass rebellion of the ordinary people of South Africa that resulted in the downfall of apartheid. There is no denying that the ANC played an important role in the struggle.  The courage and selflessness of its past  leaders inspired ordinary South Africans to rise up and resist. We looked to the ANC for leadership and guidance.  Yet even then  the ANC was a distant presence-- most of its leaders in prison, exile or in hiding. Far more tangible and immediate was the United Democratic Front. This was a thoroughly democratic and accessible organisation, built from the ground up.It’s  leaders were active in their communities and personally known by  and responsible to the people. It was committed to non-racism and justice and equality for all. It brought together all South African  dedicated to these ideals regardless all class, race,  religion and ideology. It was a home to all who were committed to ending not only  apartheid but attended social ills of poverty, violence, injustice and conflict--including like myself many white South  Africans . Today of the leaders of the UDF (and those of the ANC who truly care about creating a better future for all) have resigned from politics or fight a valiant but  losing battle against the pig-trough mentality which predominates.

Under its present  leadership the ANC is reverting more and more to the rhetoric and values of apartheid-- a new apartheidwhich  is the divide between the rich and the poor.The ANC is no longer the progressive force it once was. Secrecy, self interest, elitism, disdain for the poor and homeless, and even racism (witness Malemas claim that all whites are criminal and the general attitude of holding whites to blame for the countries problems )  seem to be its guiding principles. They have bought whole heartedly into the  system it once fought- a corrupt and inequitable system which is creating alienation,  poverty , conflict and economic apartheid on a  global level - and allied  with an international  predatory elite which keeps the poor in place through a system of wage and debt slavery.   To its credit it has bettered the lives of millions of  impoverished South Africans with grants and housing, water and electricity but has done nothing to challenge the systemic causes  of poverty, which is in fact on the increase. It does also seem that the good it has done is done reluctantly and cynically with the intent of winning votes and holding power rather than from a true sense of  social justice. I have no desire to belabour the shortcoming of our present leaders suffice to say that none of them come close to filling the shoes of past ANC leaders who gave their lives and their freedom in the hope of a better future for all. They were activists and heroes. Today our so called leaders are faceless bureaucrats. Where is the organisation of which we were once so proud??   It held so much hope and promise.

By abandoning the values for which we fought the present leaders of the  ANC have forfeited the right to lay exclusive claim to the heritage of the liberation struggle. That heritage belongs to all those who fought for and still strive for those values, whether members of the ANC or not.  We need to reclaim that spirit of activism, solidarity  and defiance which helped us overcome apartheid.  It is beyond time for a re-alignment of South  African politics—for those progressive forces  that still hold to the values of justice and equality for all South Africans regardless of class race or creed to come together and reclaim that heritage—to remember what it was we  fighting for. It was certainly not to replace one group of corrupt and self seeking  rulers  with another who differ only by the colour of their skin. Where are the leaders who will represent  all South Africans – not just the rich and powerful.??