The text below, written by the Workers Party Youth, exists to support members of our reading groups and other interested individuals in reading and understanding the text “The Justification Of The Imperialist War Is Used For Pulling The Wool Over The Peoples Eyes” written by Eliseos Vagenas of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). Those interested in joining can request to do so by writing to us via the contact form on our website.
Introduction
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 deep divisions and disagreements have emerged within the international communist movement (ICM). These divisions are of significant consequence and represent the vast differences between the revolutionary and opportunist forces in the communist movement today. In the article below the main opportunist arguments are discussed and debunked, we have added additional context (in italics) for those less familiar with the debate and associated terminology. It is important to note that these disagreements do not just revolve around the Russian invasion of Ukraine but also the understanding of imperialism in general.
The KKE takes the position that imperialism is monopoly capitalism i.e capitalism which is no longer characterised by free competition of enterprises. Instead large companies play a central role in economic life and have developed a close relationship with the state, who act in the interests of their own respective monopolies. This is in contrast to some other interpretations which do not view imperialism in this way. Instead they associate imperialism with an aggressive foreign policy, which is fundamentally incorrect. Another important distinction is the KKE’s understanding of imperialism as a world system in which all countries participate, to a greater or lesser degree, based on their respective level of development. While these differences may seem very abstract, they take on a concrete form when applied to the situation in Ukraine.
“Russia was forced to react to the expansion of NATO in order to impose the “demilitarisation” of Ukraine”
Capitalist Russia’s relationship to NATO has not always been so antagonistic, in fact Russian premier Boris Yeltsin, as quoted in the article had initiated the process to join NATO’s partnership for peace (customised agreement between NATO and non NATO partner countries), and established the NATO-Russia council. Only when their attempt to join NATO and integrate themselves into the block failed, did capitalist Russia take a more aggressive stance against NATO and “the west”. This did not occur due to threats to Russia’s existence or sovereignty but rather the roadblocks to increasing their market share, and access to new revenue sources. NATO was preventing this expansion of capitalist unions by Russia, and thus the contradictions between the two blocs began to sharpen.
“Russia is fighting against Nazism in Ukraine”
One of the most prominent and accepted arguments within “progressive circles” is that Russia is fighting Nazism in Ukraine. This is demonstrably false as discussed in the article. Most importantly, this perspective completely distorts the nature of fascism, and will lead the people to defeat and barbarism. Fascism is not a separate economic system to capitalism, it is an alternative form of management of the capitalist system to suppress the workers movement in times of revolutionary crises. As such we understand that there can be no anti fascist struggle by any capitalist nation, government, or party. As such it is simply impossible that capitalist Russia would be fighting the nazism that it happily did business with, and funded for over 30 years, and that it will inevitably deploy against the workers of its own nation when the time comes. None of this is to downplay the serious issues associated with Nazism and fascist ideologies that do in fact exist in Ukraine.
“Russia defends its nationals”
In the section titled “Russia defends its nationals” we see another very common argument thoroughly deconstructed. While there are many interesting points we find the section rather self explanatory and wish to clarify just one point. The oppression and attempted “Ukrainianisation” of the Russian speaking minorities in the Donbass region is undeniable, however the Russian state (which during the dissolution of the USSR cared not for these people) is now using this as justification for the annexation of the Crimea, and expansion further west also. The annexation of the Crimea awarded Russia control over the EEZ, meaning the exclusive economic zone that Ukraine had in the Azov and Black sea. EEZ’s are areas where countries have exclusive access to minerals and other resources in that area. The Crimea, Donbass, and Kherson also represent critical areas in Ukraine with access to mineral wealth, industrial base and arable lands.
“Russia is part of an “anti imperialist axis” fighting imperialism”
The argument which is being criticised in this section is based again on an incorrect understanding of imperialism. The core issue here is that those that support Russia in the imperialist war make an unscientific distinction between pro-imperialist and anti-imperialist states. In all countries with a developed bourgeois class (which is the vast majority) the actions of the state represent the interests of the monopolies and largest capitalists in that country. There would be no invasion of Ukraine if it was not in the objective interest of the bourgeoisie of Russia.
Since the majority of Russian monopolies are based on the petroleum sector (Gazprom, Rosneft, Novatek) there was an economic basis for the invasion of Ukraine as there exists over 900 billion cubic meters of natural gas revenues in the country. This could have been extracted without the imperialist war, if Russia was not in direct competition with the USA-EU-NATO for influence in Ukraine. It cannot be said that Russia is acting in an anti-imperialist way, as their reason for the invasion of Ukraine is the same as for other imperialist invasions such as those by the US in the Middle-East, although with different pretexts.
Some people will admit that Russia is a capitalist power but a comparatively smaller one than the US and therefore should be supported on this basis. However the difference between Russia and the US is not a qualitative one, this is to say that in both countries monopoly capitalism dominates and that their respective imperialist interventions are conducted on this basis. Supporting either state, substitutes the interests of the working class for one or another bourgeoisie and results in an abandonment of the struggle for socialism or at least its indefinite suspension.