The world crisis worsens, and the class struggle is projected

The world crisis worsens, and the class struggle is projected

Masses 667 – editorial, June 26^th, 2022

The war in Ukraine persists in time. Nothing indicates that a peace agreement is in the offing. Russia’s advance into the Donbass region indicates that it is close to achieving its military objective. In response, imperialism approved the start of the process of joining Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union. It is known that it is nothing more than a measure of political propaganda, since it takes years to reach a final decision. But it is a sign that the conflict will extend over time. And that the NATO siege of Russia will continue, whatever the cessation of war agreement is.

The newest clash zone is in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Lithuania’s ban on Russia from using the railroad to transport goods is a clear provocation of imperialism. The Baltic region involves countries such as Finland and Sweden, which have shown a willingness to submit to NATO. The Finnish government’s declaration that it is prepared for a confrontation with Russia is yet another symptom of the dangers of the war going beyond Ukraine’s borders.

Putin’s apprehension can be observed, when he complained about the United States at the BRICS Economic Forum, in the following terms: “Our businessmen are being forced to carry out their activities in difficult conditions, as the Western allies omit the basic principles of the economy of market, free trade.” And, at the same time, Xi Jinping of China denounced that the United States uses “its dominant position in the global financial system to impose sanctions in an unbridled way (…)”.

Such demonstrations reflect the worsening of the world economic crisis, which emerged in the framework of the Pandemic and was strengthened by the war in Ukraine. The rise in the prices of fuel and agricultural commodities has been widely reaching the masses. Everything indicates that the predictions of international organizations are correct, that the world economy will suffer a great decline in the coming years, depending on the fall in growth in the United States and China.

The manifestations of sectors of European imperialism, that it is necessary to find a way to solve the war, show how much the inflationary spike, the difficulties of keeping the commercial chains functioning, the probable fall in the profit rate of certain sectors, the oil cartels exorbitant gains, and recessionary pressures, are weighing on the split on the western front that fuels the war in Ukraine.

The main problem, however, is that misery and hunger have taken a giant leap forward. The weight of capitalist disintegration becomes increasingly unbearable for the working class and other workers. International authorities and institutions warn of the  class struggle emergence danger. Political crises are taking shape in various parts of the world. The United States and England, as great powers, are the most visible examples at the moment, however, in France, Emmanuel Macron continues to lose his ability to govern. Political crises and class struggle are expressions of the world economy and social relations disaggregation process.

The general strike of train and subway workers in England was a direct shock to the Boris Johnson’s government, which has frozen and reduced the purchasing power of wages when inflation rises, as well as precarious labor relations. The struggle of the English public transport workers signals that, in Europe, tendencies of mass revolt are gestating.

Latin America was severely sacrificed by bourgeois politics in the period of the Pandemic, and now it is bearing the consequences of the war in Ukraine and the economic sanctions dictated by the United States. Political crisis and class struggle also mark the continent’s life. The resumption of indigenous protests in Ecuador is aimed directly against the bourgeois government of Guillermo Lasso and the oligarchic National Congress. The recent election of Gabriel Boric, in Chile, and now Gustavo Petro, reflect the contradictions that assail the oppressed masses. Some of them reject the old bourgeois parties, and are dragged along by reformism, powerless in the face of decaying capitalism; part is unaware of the elections and the institutions of the bourgeoisie. In Brazil, the return of Lula and the PT to the presidency is almost certain, which means strengthening the policy of class conciliation, as opposed to the independent struggle of the proletariat. In Argentina, Bolivia and Nicaragua, governments that pose as reformists are plunged into a deep political crisis. Under their feet, workers and popular discontent is fermenting, driven by unemployment, underemployment, low wages, misery and hunger.

It is in these conditions that the class-conscious vanguard and the most advanced detachments of the proletariat face the task of overcoming the crisis of political leadership. The situation is favorable. It is about merging the program of demands and the revolutionary strategy with the ongoing revolts.

Of particular importance is the campaign of the Liaison Committee for the Reconstruction of the Fourth International*for the end of the war in Ukraine, the dismantling of NATO and US military bases, the revocation of the economic-financial blockade against Russia; self-determination, territorial integrity and withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. For the revolutionary unity of the world proletariat, to end the war and counter the march of misery and hunger!

*English translation for “Comitê de Enlace pela Reconstrução da IV Internacional” – CERQUI