The significant contribution of Leon Trotsky to the Marxist school of thought was “Combined and Uneven development” acquainted with the Theory of Permanent Revolution. It laid down the basis for the understanding of the character of revolution in backward countries. He put forward the view that backward countries cannot pass through the same sequence of stages that an advanced country achieves. Trotsky wrote: “It is nonsense to say that stages cannot, in general, be skipped. The living historical process always makes leaps over isolated ‘stages’ which derive from theoretical breakdown into its component parts of the process of development in its entirety, that is, taken in its fullest scope. The same is demanded of revolutionary policy at critical moments. It may be said that the first distinction between a revolutionist and a vulgar evolutionist lies in the capacity to recognize and exploit such moments.”
Trotsky's prophetic words that fit perfectly on Pakistan
Pakistan came into existence after the bloody partition of 1947. The ruling class that came into power after partition was incapable of leading a bourgeois democratic revolution. In fact from its birth, ruling class of Pakistan proved to be impotent and weak to accomplish any historical task. As Trotsky pointed out towards Russian Bourgeoisie in 1905, ‘Our liberal bourgeoisie comes forward as a counter-revolutionary force even before the revolutionary climax. At each critical moment, our intellectual democrats only demonstrate their impotence.’
What happened in 2017 was the deep state asserting itself
The present political chaos has unleashed the true nature of parliamentary democracy. The discord that vented between the previous civilian government and the military establishment is merely confined to their self-interests and has nothing in common with ideological purges. The events that unfolded last year after the judicial coup against Nawaz Sharif are the continuum drive of deep state to expand its influence in the political sphere to protect its vested interests. During the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was fervently contending his control over defence and foreign policy and it was perceived as direct intervention in Pakistan’s powerful Army’s domain. It triggered the establishment to launch a ferocious campaign against the government with the help of opposition and self-fabricated religious outfits.
Nawaz standing up against forces of darkness is a Leftist intelligentsia's illusion
Ironically, the leftist intelligentsia in Pakistan is looking towards Nawaz Sharif as a mass leader that could fight against the dark forces. It is nothing more than an illusion; soon their hope will turn into dismay. Nawaz Sharif is representative of the coward comprador bourgeoisie, and he never took his politics to the point of no return.
The whole situation needs to be analysed on a broader scale instead of grasping ideas from isolated events. The establishment will manipulate the upcoming general elections that are due to be held on 25th July 2018. They will blatantly rig the elections to form a puppet government. A few days back, Election Commission of Pakistan requested Defence Ministry to deploy 350,000 soldiers at the polling stations. This gives a sense about the reliability of the election results.
The penetration of black money in state institutions reason behind Pakistan's war at itself
In countries like Pakistan, where black money plays a crucial role in financial stability, but in the long term expresses itself in a political tug of war, and different factions of state act to protect and sustain their financial interests. The black money that infiltrated in state institutions especially Army and the ISI, during the Afghan Jihad, has shredded away the very fabric of the state. The state conflicts with itself and is in a position of a quandary. Such contradictions have detonated more vigorously, and these conflicts are eventually coming to the surface. The penetration of black money in state institutions has widened the division; with that the interference of imperialist forces cannot be ruled out. Due to Black money penetration within ruling strata, Pakistani State is crumbling and at war with itself.
Collapse in the society is a reflection of the collapse of the state
Economy lacks the potential for real growth. The belated development peculiarity of country has provided a firm basis for the lumpen and comprador bourgeoisie. The belated capitalist development in Pakistan has cumulated informal sector with the parallel economy, while it has also intensified the internal contradictions that are inherent to such developments. The anarchy and tumult has collapsed Pakistani state and society is the reflection of this phenomenon. The surge in current account deficit and widening trade deficit along with devaluation of Pakistani rupee depicts the condition of economy.
It’s a dream even to imagine independent progressive bourgeoisie
After the downfall of Stalinism, the imperialist forces have strengthened themselves on the world arena with more clutches on third world countries like Pakistan. The opening up of markets with lowering tariff barriers has even subordinated the ‘National Bourgeoisie’ of third world countries. The global shift of production can witness the capitalist thirst for cheap labour. Even the tertiary sector is outsourced to third world countries to extract more surplus value. It’s a dream even to imagine independent progressive bourgeoisie.
Only the working class is capable of leading a Socialist Revolution
Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky always stressed on revolutionary potential of working class and their scientific analysis explained that only the working class is capable of leading a Socialist Revolution. It was not just a notion or hypothesis. It is purely based on the role of workers in the sphere of production and their involvement in social production that enables them to attain socialist consciousness. The hardships of proletarian life allow them to learn collective organization and it is the outcome of capitalist exploitation they endure and subsequently organize them for class struggle.
Mass working class movements are cast off by the liberal mainstream intelligentsia
Mass working class movements are cast off by the liberal mainstream intelligentsia. They have restricted themselves to intellectual snobbery. But the oppressed masses suffering from the tribulations of capitalism tend to seek revenge for their anguish. The emancipation of masses is only possible through the collective ownership of means of production along with resources by the working class itself. The conscious intervention of working class into the arena of socialist movement is the only way to establish proletarian democracy.
Trotsky's prophetic words that fit perfectly on Pakistan
Pakistan came into existence after the bloody partition of 1947. The ruling class that came into power after partition was incapable of leading a bourgeois democratic revolution. In fact from its birth, ruling class of Pakistan proved to be impotent and weak to accomplish any historical task. As Trotsky pointed out towards Russian Bourgeoisie in 1905, ‘Our liberal bourgeoisie comes forward as a counter-revolutionary force even before the revolutionary climax. At each critical moment, our intellectual democrats only demonstrate their impotence.’
What happened in 2017 was the deep state asserting itself
The present political chaos has unleashed the true nature of parliamentary democracy. The discord that vented between the previous civilian government and the military establishment is merely confined to their self-interests and has nothing in common with ideological purges. The events that unfolded last year after the judicial coup against Nawaz Sharif are the continuum drive of deep state to expand its influence in the political sphere to protect its vested interests. During the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) government, then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was fervently contending his control over defence and foreign policy and it was perceived as direct intervention in Pakistan’s powerful Army’s domain. It triggered the establishment to launch a ferocious campaign against the government with the help of opposition and self-fabricated religious outfits.
Nawaz standing up against forces of darkness is a Leftist intelligentsia's illusion
Ironically, the leftist intelligentsia in Pakistan is looking towards Nawaz Sharif as a mass leader that could fight against the dark forces. It is nothing more than an illusion; soon their hope will turn into dismay. Nawaz Sharif is representative of the coward comprador bourgeoisie, and he never took his politics to the point of no return.
The whole situation needs to be analysed on a broader scale instead of grasping ideas from isolated events. The establishment will manipulate the upcoming general elections that are due to be held on 25th July 2018. They will blatantly rig the elections to form a puppet government. A few days back, Election Commission of Pakistan requested Defence Ministry to deploy 350,000 soldiers at the polling stations. This gives a sense about the reliability of the election results.
The penetration of black money in state institutions reason behind Pakistan's war at itself
In countries like Pakistan, where black money plays a crucial role in financial stability, but in the long term expresses itself in a political tug of war, and different factions of state act to protect and sustain their financial interests. The black money that infiltrated in state institutions especially Army and the ISI, during the Afghan Jihad, has shredded away the very fabric of the state. The state conflicts with itself and is in a position of a quandary. Such contradictions have detonated more vigorously, and these conflicts are eventually coming to the surface. The penetration of black money in state institutions has widened the division; with that the interference of imperialist forces cannot be ruled out. Due to Black money penetration within ruling strata, Pakistani State is crumbling and at war with itself.
Collapse in the society is a reflection of the collapse of the state
Economy lacks the potential for real growth. The belated development peculiarity of country has provided a firm basis for the lumpen and comprador bourgeoisie. The belated capitalist development in Pakistan has cumulated informal sector with the parallel economy, while it has also intensified the internal contradictions that are inherent to such developments. The anarchy and tumult has collapsed Pakistani state and society is the reflection of this phenomenon. The surge in current account deficit and widening trade deficit along with devaluation of Pakistani rupee depicts the condition of economy.
It’s a dream even to imagine independent progressive bourgeoisie
After the downfall of Stalinism, the imperialist forces have strengthened themselves on the world arena with more clutches on third world countries like Pakistan. The opening up of markets with lowering tariff barriers has even subordinated the ‘National Bourgeoisie’ of third world countries. The global shift of production can witness the capitalist thirst for cheap labour. Even the tertiary sector is outsourced to third world countries to extract more surplus value. It’s a dream even to imagine independent progressive bourgeoisie.
Only the working class is capable of leading a Socialist Revolution
Marx, Engels, Lenin and Trotsky always stressed on revolutionary potential of working class and their scientific analysis explained that only the working class is capable of leading a Socialist Revolution. It was not just a notion or hypothesis. It is purely based on the role of workers in the sphere of production and their involvement in social production that enables them to attain socialist consciousness. The hardships of proletarian life allow them to learn collective organization and it is the outcome of capitalist exploitation they endure and subsequently organize them for class struggle.
Mass working class movements are cast off by the liberal mainstream intelligentsia
Mass working class movements are cast off by the liberal mainstream intelligentsia. They have restricted themselves to intellectual snobbery. But the oppressed masses suffering from the tribulations of capitalism tend to seek revenge for their anguish. The emancipation of masses is only possible through the collective ownership of means of production along with resources by the working class itself. The conscious intervention of working class into the arena of socialist movement is the only way to establish proletarian democracy.