[Peace-discuss] Fw: [socialistdiscussion] Re: Syrian troops muntiny

[David Johnson]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Walter 
To: socialistdiscussion at yahoogroups.com 
Sent: Sunday, July 31, 2011 12:48 PM
Subject: [socialistdiscussion] Re: Syrian troops muntiny


  


I was thinking more of the way Ghadaffi has created a layer of obviously loyal support. One pro-Ghadaffi website writes the following and I have heard similar reports on mainstream media:
"the Libyan Revolution when it comes decent living conditions has produced far better results than in the so-called democracies of the bourgeois West, with staggering levels of unemployment, high living costs, homelessness, and so on. There are no crippling mortgages in Libya, but rather apartments that inhabitants enjoy rent-free. Purchases for a new car are helped out by the Government, which issues financial assistance covering up to half the cost. Gasoline only costs $0.14 a liter. Newlyweds receive $64,000 for the purchase of a new apartment, and $7000 for every newborn. The Jamahiriya is a form of government that takes care of its people, unlike under bourgeois rule, under which Libya suffered horribly during the Idris monarchy." 

Subsidies for food, particularly bread and oil, are often present in Middle Eastern countries whatever their political complexion. Iran offers analogous benefits, I believe. Didn't the IMT cosnider whether Iran beside Syria had elements of a workers' state?
I had the impression, in Libya, that besides the state bank most, if not all, of the oilfields were in state hands. Recent concessions to western capital were aimed at rapid development, particularly of the mediterranean coastline's tourist industry but I'm not sure if these were temporary drilling rights or if the oilfields have been privatised.

If this or other Middle Eastern economies were found to be mostly in state hands, wouldn't this change socialists' attitude to the Arab Spring /Summer? And wouldn't it be necessary to help warn against counter revolutionary currents in the uprisings?

Lots of open questions and ifs I know but I haven't seen any clear analysis so far. Anyone know of one?

Walter



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