This podcast episode outlines the revolutionary socialist perspective on the Middle East, primarily from source documents from the Fourth International and Trotskyist organisations internationally. It covers three main areas:
Zionism: The Fourth International views Zionism as racist, advocating for the unconditional right of Palestinian Arabs to self-determination, including the right to return, which "presupposes the destruction of the Zionist state." It suggests that after this, a Jewish national minority might have a right to self-determination. The Israeli Socialist Organisation (Matzpen) is mentioned as anti-Zionist, while the US SWP is criticized for shifting, in 2021, towards supporting Israel.
Arab Revolution: Described as crucial in colonial revolutions (e.g., Algeria, Palestine), it's posited that the "Arab revolution will be socialist or it will not be a revolution," aiming for a federative Arab socialist republic. It critiques Arab nationalist currents (Nasserism, Baathist) for failing to provide stable leadership and Arab Communist parties for subordinating to the Kremlin. The development of Trotskyist groups aiming for a unified Arab section of the Fourth International is noted, emphasizing the need for proletarian leadership.
Iranian Revolution: This is presented as a case study for "permanent revolution." Debate centered on whether solving democratic problems necessitated socialist revolution. Criticism arose regarding the Zahraie-led HKE's "adaptationist course" to Khomeini's regime, contrasting with views that saw the Islamic Republic as a "clerical capitalist enemy." The theoretical debate (e.g., Mandel vs. Jenness) highlighted the tension between anti-imperialism and class struggle.
The outline concludes by discussing strategic approaches: mass self-organization (In Iran, workers' shoras), "transitional demands" to bridge immediate needs with socialist goals, and the importance of theory and avoiding "tail-ending bourgeois politics."
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