In the last issue, John Ross showed how capitalist regimes in the semi-colonial world inevitably remain loyal to their class interests despite taking far reaching anti-imperialist measures. This week he looks at Khomeini's regime in Iran from that point of view.
WHAT IS the nature of the Khomeini regime in Iran? What attitude should be taken to it? That is a question which has created wide confusion on the left.
When the Shah of Iran was OVER OVE February 1979 this was greeted great joy throughout the world. The seizure of the United States embassy in Tehran also created enthusiasm.
Mine Khomeint covernment declared itself islamic revolutionary same so on an saw imperialist force Others pointed out the carried against the working class by the regime, its torture, its savage war against the Kurds and other oppressed nationalities, its denial of the rights of women.
that the remine 'even worse than the Shah' was taken up in the press and echoed in some left wing papers.
In reality, however, the apparent contradictions of the Khomeini regime are not contradictions at all. ine govemment s nature and the attitude -to taken clearly outlined in the theory permanent revolution. It is indeed one of the illustrations of the great strengths of this analysis that it can explain a regime such as Kh The cha character of the Khomeini regime becomes programme to beat the crisis. discuss the new Lubour left Loon Tate Mike Davis on exterminism and the cold war Pat Hickey, John Deason (Sociali Thornett (Socialist Organiser) on the trade union Perry Anderson and Bernadette MacAliskey also invited.
A crache is Socialist Challenge clear when its class nature, as a government of a semi-colonial capitalist class, is looked at in the concrete situation in Iran.
Every capitalist class attempts to maximise it. interests. A semi-colonial bourgeoisic has two immediate enemies. One is Above all however, earlier in this series with SASSET bourgeoisie must defend itself against is own working class.
Prior to 1979 the Shah of Iran had maintained the imperiapossible ase th closest above all with the United States.
The had concentrated in his those immediately around him, such esources and profits that government become intolerable and oppressive not only for the working class and peasants of the Iranian capitalist clasSieanwhile the itself only significant mass independent working class organisation, the Communist (Tudeh) Party was deeply discredited by its whole previous policy.
The huge mass mobilisations which That's financial and economic crisis, the context for Britain's crisis. The presentation will be by Ernest on the subject.
The rest of the weekend will be given over to discussing the different facets of the crisis. Frances Morell, Alan Freeman and Labour Briefing will Campbell und Valerie Coultas debate Sweet Free the British cconomic disaste Hilary Wainwright and Tessa van John Ross and Duncan Hallas debate entryism and the nission to the weekend costs just E4. E2.50 per day provided and food will be avallable. icketa to. Interneidn 50. London N1 2XP 2 October 1982 page 10 started against the Shah were therefore composed of the workers and peasants of Iran but supported by far wider layers than that. In the end these mobilisations developed such a dynamic that only the Shah but his regime was overthrown by a vast popular insurrection.
This situation, however, posed the Iranian bourgcorsic a tremendous problem. the case of most 'populist bourgeois regimes for example Nasser in Egypt or Peron in Argentina the capitalist class maintains a strong state ap paratus. parlicular these regimes need strong army with which to control and repress the working class. The capitalist class prepared to engage in anti-imperialist actions only because it had this powerful state with which to control the working class and peasants, execute their CHOCTS. NOTCHA up their organisaitons, and prevent them asserting independent class goals.
But in Iran this state ZOOTHELS •ERNEST MANDEL • BERNADETTE McALISKEY Friday 22nd October 7pm County Hall Waterloo dously weakened, and its central core, the army, almost smashed by the insurrection. The bourgeoisie could not rely normal administrative methods of repression because its state apparatus was too weak. It had to rely on force to channel and control the working class and peasants while the state apparatus was rebuilt.
The only force which could do this in Iran was Khomeini. Khomeini possessed the most power ful political weapon with which to control the masses his prestige as symbol and leader of the struggle against the Shah. He possessed in the Shiite clergy the strongest administrative apparatus in the country from which to launch repression agamst the working class and its allies.
A figure such as BaniSadr might have had a "tidier' and more rational short term economic plan class. But to maintain its class rule is. for the bourgeoisie not primarily question of "careful' COHOLIC Planame Socialist Challenge more efficient administration. rule, bourgeoisie must have as powerful possible political control of the masses and as strong as possible paratus. A figure such as Bani-Sadr lacked the political support and administrative base which to control, repress.
defeat the working class and peasants.
ле плотеть подин was needed for the Iranian bourgeoisie not primarily because It was the most anti-imperialist. the contrary, imperialist actions were extremcly small compared to a figure such as Nasser. Its importance was that it was the strongest force in the country for breaking up any independent movement of the working class, peasants, and oppressed nationalities.
Once that fundamental character of the regime is understood then all and SUDSCEUCHE turns fall into place. Next week, we will look at development of the 10TG90193 amid REVOLUTION Is of Way Salon available Trai More info on loeal activin . High Se Glass Cresswell Lane: Hope Wales BANGOR: Sat 10-12 town centre NEWPORT every Sar is tawn centre SWANSEA: SC sales outside Co-og Oxford St, 1tam-Ipm, Sueerdays England clevelan Keys way hi at Faunh tea More into BURNLEY: SC "
HEMEL HEMPSTEAD: SC LEEDS in Prechet and 10.30-12.0 Bank. Tiph Star BLURY in the shor MASCHESTER C Druylesden markcts 11am trashep. Tel: 001 2364905 for h Bookshops BANGOR: Briety The Paste Home La BRISTOL: Füllmarks, 110 Chelten DURHAM Dartare Gly Comp Birmingham ILFORD: South Essex Bookshop, 33 MILTON KEYNES: Callest Book OXFORD: EOA Dooks. books a Covies LIVERPOOL What's Left HATES for What's Laft. Sp per wan sublication. Payment in advarice. Phone 01-360 8166 SPARE BOOKS! Any books you don' Bookshop, 328 Upper 51, London NI BADGES MADE GROW SCSI Box 50, London NI 2XP OLDHAM: SC sold SHEFFIELD:
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London ThE STop wid Wilder: Junction EALING: Thur, Baling ENFIELD: SC at Nelsons newsagents . Enfield Town team ce John at 399 t2k: or pho HOUNSLOW East tabe. every w sold Holines Rist me and Wigsur Holloway Roa WEMBLEY: SCUL 1F Fn 6.45ama North Wembley BR Station Khan Han NOTTINGHAM: Mushroom Docks. 1. TON: Ocuber Books YORK. Community Books, Walr Onder from SC. PO Box 50, London N/ 2XP UNREGISTERED October Banquet East London Socialist Challenge Splendid food, auction, Disco and bar. Guest speakers from Central America Tickets from M Martin PO Box 36 136 Kingsland High Road, E8 (986 6439)
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DEBATING SOCIALISM Kingsway Princeton College Sidmouth Street, off Gray's Inn Rd A WHOLE WEEKEND debating a
what is taking place on 23-24 October at a forum organised by the Marxist journal International. The weekend will start with an introduction on the world
Mandel, perhaps the best known revolutionary Marxist authority
celebrate the 65th anniversary of the RUSSIAN * REVOLUTION *