Contribution to the 13th
International Communist Seminar
Brussels, 2-4 May 2004
www.icsbrussels.org , ics[at]icsbrussels.org
Communist Party of Turkey (TKP)
Turkey
Erkin Özalp
Member of the Central Committee
Dear comrades,
First of all, I want to thank the Workers Party of Belgium for their big efforts aimed at organizing this very successful meeting. We are really going to return to our countries with new ideas and discussion points.
Secondly, let me say a few words about the contradictions among imperialist and capitalist countries, which was one of the discussion topics yesterday and the day before.
Are there really important contradictions?
Yes, there are…
Should we analyze them?
Of course, we have to do that…
However, we think that, one point should be clear for us: The existence of contradictions among imperialist and capitalist countries is an objective fact, but this fact cannot automatically lead to certain political conditions.
We should formulate another question: Is it possible for us, for the communists, to benefit from these contradictions?
Yes, but not so easily…
Let me formulate this question in an other way: Are the contradictions so deep that they make it impossible for the imperialists and for the capitalists to unite themselves against communist movements, against the working class, against the peoples of the world?
According to us, these contradictions are not that deep, at least today.
For instance, the EU tries to be perceived as a less aggressive and a more humanistic power. On the other hand, France, one of the biggest imperialist countries, is supporting the so-called "anti-globalist" movements.
But the experience of Yugoslavia, the experience of Iraq, the experience of the Kurdish movement in Turkey and the experience of the prisoners in Turkey showed that the EU is not less aggressive than the U.S.
Only an independent movement based on the organized struggle of the working may indirectly benefit from the contradictions among imperialists.
I think that there are many experiences in our history proving this claim. But, we have a current example as well. Namely, the experience of Cuba…
Is Cuba benefiting from the contradictions among imperialists?
Yes, of course…
However, as we talked about yesterday evening, we should not forget: The EU is also supporting the anti-revolutionary forces in Cuba. Only their methods are somewhat different. Nevertheless, Cuba is as firm against the EU, when necessary, as it is against the U.S., thanks to its revolutionary and organized people.
And, exactly because of this fact, Cuba is able to benefit from the contradictions among imperialists.
So, our task is not supporting the positive but false expectations of our people about some imperialist or capitalist countries, but to organize them into independent movements against imperialism and against capitalism.
Before focusing on our concrete tasks, I want to talk about the relations between the anti-imperialist struggle and the class struggle.
With regard to those relations, there are two problematic approaches.
First, according to some people, the struggle against the U.S. or against the so-called "globalization" can only be carried out on the global scale and regarding this struggle, other sections of the society are at least as important as, and even more important than the working class. The defenders of this approach sometimes refer to the concept of "imperialism" as well, but they generally prefer concepts such as "globalization" or "empire".
In fact, a struggle lacking a working class character cannot be an "anti-imperialist" struggle!
From our viewpoint, one point should be clear: For us, international solidarity and unity are not only a starting point. In order to make our international ties stronger, we have to be successful in our own countries, and in particular, we have to strengthen the working class character of our struggle.
In the 20th century and especially after the Second World War, the international struggle against imperialism was much stronger than today, thanks to socialist revolutions and national liberation movements. Revolutions and social movements in individual countries formed the basis of the international unity of the anti-imperialist struggle. Of course, the existence of the socialist bloc was a very important factor on its own.
Today, there is no strong socialist bloc. What does this mean with regard to our struggle?
According to us, the lack of a strong socialist bloc means that we have to be much more careful about the working class character of our struggle. From 1950’s until 1989, even movements lacking a solid class character were able to remain revolutionary or progressive, thanks to the socialist bloc. However, since 1989, especially the new forms of national movements have shown how easy it is to deviate from a progressive path for movements lacking a working class character.
The problem is not the impossibility of establishing a strong global movement lacking a working class character. Let’s assume that this is a realistic target. But, what will happen, when such a target is achieved?
A global movement, which is not based on working class movements in individual countries, which is not supported by the working class and which does not support the struggle of the working class, will unavoidably obey the rules set by the imperialist system and transform into a movement manipulated by the imperialists.
So much about the first approach…
According to the second approach, the struggle against imperialism cannot be a top priority for the working class. The defenders of this approach argue that the prior problems of the working class are problems such as impoverishment, privatizations, restrictions imposed on social rights etc.
In fact, since 1980’s, the working class is struggling to maintain its living conditions and social rights. However, almost without any permanent success… Moreover, the failures of the struggle aimed at maintaining the existing conditions are weakening the working class movement further.
And this is very natural, since the imperialists and their local collaborators have united themselves against the working class and against large masses. Their unity is not only an economic one, but it is also a political, ideological and even cultural unity. They fight against the working class in many fronts.
A working class, which only tries to protect its existing positions, may slow down the attacks of its enemy, but surely, it cannot be able to win the fight.
So, what should be done?
In every country, the working class has to lead other sections of the society in the struggle against imperialism and against capitalism. Without doing that, the working class cannot be able to protect even its narrow interests.
The main task of the working class, to lead other sections of the society, is first of all a "political" task. The working class cannot fulfill this task only through resisting against privatizations or restrictions imposed on social rights.
Additionally, in its fight against imperialists and their local collaborators, the working class should discover and target the weakest fronts of its enemy.
From this point on, let me talk about our own experiences in Turkey.
As you know, we are trying to organize a struggle against NATO and against the NATO summit that is scheduled to be held in Istanbul in June.
Why NATO?
Since, it is very difficult for our rulers to advocate NATO and the planned summit. They are able to deceive our people about the European Union. But, what can they say about NATO?
Furthermore, again as you know, a very large majority of our people is clearly opposing the occupation in Iraq. However, the NATO summit is going to bring the leaders of the occupation to our country. They are going to prepare new occupation plans. They are going to discuss about the deployment of Turkish troops in other countries.
Naturally, they do not tell our people the truths.
That is why the struggle against the NATO summit provides a big opportunity for us. No worker, no laborer, and no patriot we talk to thinks that what we are doing is wrong or unnecessary.
However, our task is more than telling our people the truths. We have to organize our people, and particularly our workers.
The Committees Against Occupation, led by the Communist Party of Turkey, meet exactly that necessity. Those committees, which had been established during the Iraq War, are the organizations of those struggling against the NATO summit and in particular the organizations of patriotic workers. The Committees Against Occupation form a kind of school as well. The members of those committees learn how to carry out an organized struggle. They collect signatures. They ask those who support their initiative to collect signatures of other people. They invite them to join the committees. In other words, they learn how to get organized.
At least as important as that, the struggle against the NATO summit allows us to bring the minority of the working class that is organized in the trade unions and the majority of the class that is unorganized together. In other words, our struggle brings us closer to the target of forming a single and united working class movement.
We attach much importance to the working class character of the struggle against NATO. We are trying to make workers the prominent actors of this struggle. On the May Day, workers and patriots from all corners of Turkey came to Istanbul, in order to say "no" to NATO.
We are doing our best, but not only since the NATO summit is important. Every achievement in the struggle against the NATO summit will add to the self-confidence of the working class. And this is what we need most.
We know the potential of the working class. However, the important thing is to make the working class perceive its own potential. That is why we need concrete achievements.
And, what about the international aspects of our struggle?
Obviously, a working class that is struggling against NATO and against imperialism will be more ready to value international solidarity and to develop more advanced forms of solidarity.
Our struggle against the NATO summit is supported by many organizations from different corners of the world. And, exactly since they are carrying out a struggle, this support adds to the self-confidence of our workers. On the other hand, the strengthening of the struggle of the Turkish working class on the national scale will allow the working class to become a more active player on the international scale as well.
Dear comrades,
Let me say a few words about the initiatives aimed at the establishment of a European Left Party.
According to us, the main problem is not whether we should develop more advanced forms of unity or not. Of course, all of us stand for a stronger unity.
However, what will and should be the basis of our unity?
Will we give priority to the working class struggles in individual countries and to the needs of these struggles, or will we target a unity to be established at the expense of them?
If we do the latter, our failure will be inevitable.
Comrades,
Finally, on behalf of our party, I want once more to thank you for supporting our struggle against the NATO summit scheduled to be held in June. Your support is very valuable for us, for the workers and patriots of our country.
We are sure about the success of our struggle against imperialism and against capitalism. And we are sure that our success will be the outcome of our common struggle.
Thank you.
(11 may 2004)