 INVITATION: TO WHOMEVER MIGHT BE INTERESTED by communnale |
| THE FIRST MARX COMMUNNALE CONFERENCE PROGRAM by communnale |
| INAUGURATING THE MARX COMMUNNALE (Sept.28.2002) by communnale |
Ever since the regrettable collapse of historical socialism, capitalism has rapidly expanded into a global system that knows no limits any longer. With a drastic weakening of the democratic, social power to regulate the free mobility of capital, the entire world has become a 'heaven of rampant capital'. Capital now freely passes on wealth to the chosen few on an unprecedented scale to pauperize most of the world population. Thus capital amplifies and deepens world class contradictions. In recent years, numerous national economies have broken down, so frequently that one cannot help fearing an impending worldwide financial crisis unparalleled in history. What is more, the free movement of capital is enormously aggravating the problems of gender inequality, racial discrimination, and ecological destruction around the globe. As a result, the humanity is faced with a dreadful crisis and chaos.
What kind of role should progressive theories assume in this era of global capitalism? We believe that they have to acquire, among other things, a capacity to scientifically analyze the social tendencies, problems, and issues which have emerged in the recent development of world history. Also, it is incumbent on progressive theories to discover a correct direction for the advance of human history and to convert it into a practical weapon for the revolutionary transformation of our problematic reality. For is it not the responsibility of a progressive theory to envision social relations free from discrimination, suppression, and exploitation, while opposing such inhumanities?
We emphasize the centrality of Marx's position in the progressive theories. While not every progressive theory can be reduced to the Marxian position, there is no denying that it is the very foundation of progressive theories. Without recourse to Marx, any attempt to establish a progressive theory will end up in vain. The recent experience illustrates what kind of situation Progressive Theory will confront when the Marxian line is ignored. Since the collapse of historical socialism, not a few of the academic circles in the progressive camp abandoned the Marxian position. Consequently, as we all know well, there happened an egregious loss of direction for Progressive Theory and hence a theoretical subordination to the main stream Bourgeois Theory. We therefore insist that Marx be reestablished as the paradigm for Progressive Theory. Nowadays in front of us, we witness worsening contradictions of capitalistic globalization, social inequalities due to neo-liberalism, and endless global environmental catastrophes. It is our firm belief that one can never underestimate the 'actuality' of Marxian theory in an era such as ours, when human history finds itself at the crossroads where the choice is to be made between a 'degradation into barbarism' and a 'creation of new hope'.
Today, we inaugurate the Marx Communnale. The Marx Communnale--"Communnale" stands for "commune" and "biennale"--is an organization which plans to hold biennial meetings in which academic and cultural activities will take place on the theme of Marx and Marxism. Our initial purpose of launching this project is twofold. First, we aim to create an academic public space where important theoretical and practical issues of our time, understood in the spirit and methodology of Marx and Marxism, may be discussed and debated. Second, we seek to provide for an opportunity of communication and understanding through which progressive students, professors, researchers, intellectuals, political activists, labor activists, artists, poets, novelists, writers, critics and all other academic and cultural practitioners will share interests and information. In short, the Marx Communnale will become a biennial commune where both progressive theory and practice, academic and cultural activities as well conjoin so that a path can be beaten toward the solidarity of theory and practice, academicians and political activists, professors and students, women and men, cultural theoreticians and practitioners, humanities and social sciences, among people of different sexual orientations, and among many other various human beings. We sincerely hope that the Marx Communnale will make a significant contribution to the strengthening of the overall progressive movement on Korean soil.
In order to render this project successful, we are much in need of help and participation from friends and comrades. We also expect to see an orchestrated effort, on the part of those who are willing to involve in the project, for sharing information, raising issues, leading debates, and finding solutions to the problems anticipated in the course of this project. We heartily invite people pursuing a radical change of reality for the progress of our society, to take part actively in the Marx Communnale.
On the twenty-eighth of September, 2002
Organizing Committee of the Marx Communnale
Organizing Committee of the Marx Communnale
