"The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte" by Karl Marx
Mar 19, 2024
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Exploring Karl Marx's 'The 18th Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte,' the podcast dives into French history, class conflict, Bonapartism, and fascism. They discuss the role of the state under capitalism, making sense of the current US crisis and global issues.
The state reflects class interests and can fail when mediating conflicting interests.
Bourgeois republics can both serve and threaten the bourgeoisie's power and stability.
The bourgeoisie's support for authoritarian figures in crises can lead to a sacrifice of political power.
Fear of masses' intelligence and conservative nature influences bourgeoisie's political and social strategies.
Deep dives
The Role of the State in Class Society
The text highlights the state as a reflection of class interests within society, rejecting the idea of a neutral state mediating between different classes. It points out that the form of the state is shaped by class conditions and emphasizes how mediating class interests in the state can eventually lead to its failure, as conflicting interests come to the surface. This insight prefigures Lenin's work on the state as a mechanism of class rule and underscores the need for revolution alongside reforms.
The Bourgeois Republic and Class Rule
The text delves into the idea of the bourgeois republic as a form of political rule dominated by the bourgeoisie. It reveals how the parliamentary republic serves as a tool for the bourgeoisie to exercise political domination and unite their class interests, while also perplexingly leading to an undermining of their social foundation. It showcases how the bourgeoisie might reject the republic due to the feeling of vulnerability that comes with confronting subjugated classes in an overt manner in a parliamentary setting.
The Tensions Within the Bourgeoisie
Within the text, there is a discussion on the bourgeoisie's strategic relationship with the political structure. Despite initially siding with a monarchist overthrow of the republic, the bourgeoisie's actual interests lie in the continuity of profit accumulation. This paradoxical stance arises from the fact that while the parliamentary republic secures their economic power, it also exposes their overt political power and puts them in direct contention with the working class parties, leading to a complexity of bourgeois interests and motivations.
Potential Transitions in Political Dynamics
Drawing parallels to potential shifts in contemporary political dynamics, the text offers insights into the possibility of bourgeois backing for authoritarian figures amidst crises. It poses scenarios where the bourgeoisie may prioritize economic stability and profit accumulation over overt political power, potentially leading to support for an authoritarian or military dictator. This analysis resonates with fears within liberal circles about political authoritarianism rising in turbulent times.
The Bourgeoisie's Fear of Revolutionary Masses
The text discusses how the bourgeois class fears the stupidity of the masses when conservative and their insight when revolutionary. This fear exposes their own interests to be rid of their rule to maintain tranquility, social power, and political power intact. The bourgeoisie must sacrifice political power to preserve social and economic power, highlighting the paradox they face.
The Labeling of Liberal Policies as Socialistic
The text points out the tendency to label liberal policies as socialistic, reflecting a fear among the bourgeoisie. In the American context, even moderate policies are often characterized as socialist or communist, showcasing the deep-rooted anti-communism in the US. The European embrace of policies labeled as socialism contrasts with the American perspective shaped by historical and cultural factors.
Comparison Between Peasantry and Modern Proletarians
The discussion delves into the differences between the peasantry and modern proletarians. While the peasantry's self-sufficiency and lack of socialized labor set them apart, modern proletarians are connected to the bourgeoisie's existence through labor exploitation. The comparisons reveal how differences in historical contexts and societal structures shape class identities and conflicts.
Understanding the American Revolution as Conservative
Reflections on the American Revolution depict it as a predominantly conservative movement rather than a revolutionary one. The separation from monarchism and formal structures of republicanism may qualify it as a revolution in historical terms. However, its aristocratic and conservative nature, coupled with contradictions like slavery and settler colonialism, complicates its revolutionary characterization.
Alyson and Breht explain and explore this famous text from Karl Marx, in the process they discuss French history, class conflict, the peasantry and lumpenproletariat, Bonapartism and Fascism, history, the role of the State under capitalism, and how all of this helps us to make sense of our contemporary moment of crisis in the US and around the world.
