abclaret's Reviews > Blackshirts and Reds: Rational Fascism and the Overthrow of Communism

It as be said that the political right (and to some extent the centre) have it easy. They just have to maintain the power they get and prove to be capable rulers. For revolutionary-leftwing politics to work, you need essentially to cover two bases; 1) offer a valid critique of the existing political model and 2) find something viable to replace it.

While Parenti comes up with some sound reasons about how and why capitalism is and always as been rotten, its wars, bureaucracy, its unfair labour exchange system, etc., its the second part thats saddly weak. Towards this end he offers up his theory on 'Siege Socialism', as a counter pole to replace capitalism or offer a reason why existing socialist states should be defended as a gain for/by workers. 'Seige Socialism' is not an ideal, or a utopia but simply a reality of hostile states encircling a country which is trying to practice socialim, Parenti tells us. The beauty of this arguement is that every major crack in the system can be glossed over as a fault of the capitalist imperial powers. If only it was so simple....

Let it be said I have read many defences of the USSR, and Stalinism in general, but this is one of the worst defenses of an 'existing socialist' state Ive read for some time. How Parenti manages to go from logically asset stripping capitalism taking account of its errors to defending a society which was nothing more than an ill planned police state is startling.

Frankly Noam Chomsky might not always be as readable, but it as to be said he has way better politics.