Special Edition of “Revolutionary Communism News”, Newsletter of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency, No.17, 11.2.2013
(1) Introduction
(2) Back Cover Text of the Book
(3) Book Details and Special Offer
(4) Book’s Table of Contents
(5) Contact Details
The RCIT is proud to announce the publication of a new book. It’s called THE GREAT ROBBERY OF THE SOUTH. The book’s subtitle is: Continuity and Changes in the Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial World by Monopoly Capital. Consequences for the Marxist Theory of Imperialism. The book is in English-language. It has 15 chapters, 448 pages and includes 139 Tables and Figures. The author of the book is Michael Pröbsting who is the International Secretary of the RCIT.
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The following paragraphs are the back cover text of the book which gives an overview of its content.
In The Great Robbery of the South Michael Pröbsting analyses the super-exploitation and oppression of the semi-colonial world (often referred to as the “Third World”) by the imperialist powers and monopolies. He shows that the relationship between the small minority of rich capitalist countries and the huge majority of mankind living in the semi-colonial world forms one of the most important elements of the imperialist world system we are living in.
The Great Robbery of the South shows that the past decades have been a complete confirmation of the validity of Lenin’s theory of imperialism and its programmatic conclusions.
The Great Robbery of the South demonstrates the important changes in the relationship between the imperialist and the semi-colonial countries. Using comprehensive material (including 139 Tables and Figures), Michael Pröbsting elaborates that never before has such a big share of the world capitalist value been produced in the South. Never before haven the imperialist monopolies been so dependent on the super-exploitation of the semi-colonial world. Never before has migrant labor from the semi-colonial world played such a significant role for the capitalist value production in the imperialist countries. Never before has the huge majority of the world working class lived in the South – outside of the old imperialist metropolises.
In The Great Robbery of the South Michael Pröbsting argues that a correct understanding of the nature of imperialism as well as of the program of permanent revolution which includes the tactics of consistent anti-imperialism is essential for anyone who wants to change the world and bring about a socialist future.
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Title: The Great Robbery of the South
Subtitle: Continuity and Changes in the Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial World by Monopoly Capital. Consequences for the Marxist Theory of Imperialism
Author: Michael Pröbsting
Book Format: Paperback, A5, 448 pages
Price: 15 Euro / 20 US-Dollars / 13 British Pound
A Publication of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency
If you order the book already now we will send you the book for 12 Euro / 16 US-Dollars / 10,5 British Pound (plus postal charges).
If you want to order the book please contact us (see below for full details).
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In order to provide a better insight we reprint below the book’s table of contents with the chapter headings, and nested subheadings.
Contents
List of Tables and Figures
List of Abbreviations
Introduction
1. Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism
“…as precise and full a Definition of Imperialism as possible”
Trotsky’s View of Lenin’s Theory of Imperialism
The Division of the World into Oppressing and Oppressed Nations
The Semi-Colonial Countries: a modified Form of Imperialist Subjugation or Independent Capitalist States?
The Role of the Superstructure and its Relationship with the Economic Basis
Imperialism and the Semi-Colonial State
2. Monopolism and the increasing Role of Monopolies in the World Economy
Imperialism as Policy or as Monopolism based on Economic Laws?
Monopolism and Monopoly Profit
The ever-increasing Grip of Monopolies in the World Economy
3. The Decline of Capitalism since the 1970s
4. Capitalist Value Production and the Working Class Move to the South
The Marxist Classics on the Industrialization of the South
Value and Price on the World Market: The Grand Distortion of the Value Creation in the South
The increasing Importance of the Proletariat in the South and the Emerging Imperialist Countries
5. Rising Exploitation, Super-Exploitation and the Lowering the Value of Labour Force
Marx and the Depressing the Wages below the Value of the Labor Force
Impoverishment and Précarisation of the World Working Class in the past Decades
The Rise in the Rate of Exploitation
6. Marxist Theory and Imperialist Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial Countries
Unequal Exchange
Capital Export
Migration and Super-Exploitation
Centrist Objections
The Role of the Foreign Market
7. The Various Forms of Imperialist Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial Countries and their Development in the past Decades (Part 1)
An Overview on the Financial Net Transfer
Importance of Raw Materials and Food
The Role of Imperialist Capital Export to the Semi-Colonial World
Excurse: Capital Export and Capital Export is not the same
8. The Various Forms of Imperialist Super-Exploitation of the Semi-Colonial Countries and their Development in the past Decades (Part 2)
i) Extra Profits via Capital Export as Productive Investment
ii) Extra profits via Capital Export as Money Capital (Loans, Currency Reserves, Speculation, etc.)
Losses from Currency Exchange
Capital Flight
iii) Value Transfer from the Semi-Colonial South to the Imperialist North: Unequal Exchange
iv) Value Transfer from the Semi-Colonial South to the Imperialist North: Migration
Direct and Indirect Exploitation of Migrants
Attempt for Total Calculation of Imperialist Plundering
Excurse: The Role of the Plundering of the Colonies for the Formation of Capitalism in Western Europe in the 16th to 18th Century
9. Revisionist Critiques of the Leninist Theory of Imperialism
The Essence of Centrism
Denial of Concept of Semi-Colonies
Did Lenin and Trotsky know of Semi-Colonies?
When did the Epoch of Imperialism begin?
“Sometimes the Creation of ‚Independent’ States leads to a Strengthening of Imperialism.” (Lenin)
Backward Countries without Industry and Proletariat?
The CWI and the “imperialist” Argentina
The Example of Argentina
The SWP/IST and the Debt Dependency
Is there still a National Question of the Semi-Colonial Countries?
The new Theory of “Sub-Imperialism”
The Example of Turkey
“Sub-Imperialism” or Advanced Semi-Colonies?
Rejection of Concept of Labor Aristocracy
LFI: A formal Defense of Lenin’s Theory which disembowels its revolutionary Content
10. China‘s Transformation into an Imperialist Power
What are the Criteria for an Imperialist State?
China’s race to a World Major Economy
China’s Monopolies
Exploitation and Super-Exploitation of the Working Class
Capital Export as Bond and Loan Capital
Capital Export as Foreign Direct Investment
A Note on Hong Kong’s Role in Foreign Direct Investment
Where is China investing abroad?
China’s Military Forces
The Struggle for Control over the South China (or East) Sea
Where should the Working Class stand in possible Wars involving US and Chinese Imperialism and South-East Asian Nations?
Why did China’s Rulers succeed in becoming imperialist where others failed?
11. The Theory of Permanent Revolution and its Program for the Working Class Struggle
12. The Struggle against Imperialist Aggressions and Wars: The Programme of the early Communist International and the Fourth International
i) Reactionary Wars and Conflicts between Imperialist States
ii) Just Wars and Resistance of the Oppressed
For the Destruction of the Apartheid State Israel!
Excursus: Capitalism as a unity of economic, political and ideological Spheres
iii) The Struggle for Class Independence and the Anti-imperialist United Front Tactic
iv) Liberation Struggles, Imperialist Interference and the Dual Military Tactics
The Public Opinion in the Imperialist World must not be the Starting Point for developing a Position towards a War!
How to approach various Forms of imperialist Military Interventions?
Consequences for the Military Tactic
The Marxist Classics on Contradictory Factors in Wars
13. Centrism’s Failure in the Struggle against Imperialist Wars
i) The Malvinas War in 1982
ii) The Gulf War in 1991
iii) The imperialist War on Terror since 2001
Social-Imperialist ex-Stalinists
The IST’s specific Form of Opportunism
How to fight for anti-imperialist Position and how not to fight for it
IST policy: Give us some Posts and we stop fighting for our Principles
CWI and their Capitulation to Imperialism
Socialist Zionism a la CWI
Is Revolutionary Defeatism too much for the Working Class? On the CWI’ and IMT’s Falsification of Lenin’s and Trotsky’s Method
CMR/IRMT: Rejection of Anti-Imperialism in ultra-left Clothes
14. Some final remarks on the perspectives for class struggle
i) A world historic revolutionary period
ii) The present historic period and its consequences for the semi-colonial world
The Shift to the South
The shift to Asia
Increasing Migration and Internationalization of the working class in the North
Great Power Rivalry and increasing imperialist leverage and wars of aggression against semi-colonies
Tendency towards Colonialism or more room to maneuver for the semi-colonial bourgeoisie?
Globalization, regionalization and protectionism
The Prospects of Revolution and the Crisis of Working Class Leadership
15. Summary
Bibliography
About the Author
Final note by the Editor: The whole book consists of newly written material with two exceptions. Chapter 10 “China‘s Transformation into an Imperialist Power” is based on an earlier study which was published by the RCIT in its journal Revolutionary Communism No. 4 in August 2012. Subchapter 12 iv) “Liberation Struggles, Imperialist Interference and the Dual Military Tactics” is based on an essay which the RCIT published in its journal Revolutionary Communism No. 6 in November 2012. Both documents have been edited and enlarged for this book.
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Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT)
The Revolutionary Communist International Tendency (RCIT) is an internationalist organisation with sections in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, USA and Austria. We are striving to build a revolutionary Fifth Workers‘ International.
E-Mail: rcit@thecommunists.net
Tel.: +43/650/406 83 14
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