[Having an analytical framework to understand the key
relationships that define the social conditions and political battles
we face can guide us in formulating our strategy and tactics on every
level—from local to global.]
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ON FOUR GLOBAL CONTRADICTIONS  
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Bill Fletcher Jr., Jerry Harris
September 2, 2023
Convergence
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_ Having an analytical framework to understand the key relationships
that define the social conditions and political battles we face can
guide us in formulating our strategy and tactics on every level—from
local to global. _

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How can we determine what are the main class and social conflicts in
today’s world? We know there are multiple struggles in every
country, and between countries. But what are the key relationships
that define the social conditions and political battles we face? Here
we need an analytical framework to understand the workings of
capitalism, to guide us in formulating our strategy and tactics. Many
socialists have used the concept of “contradictions.” This
presents two major opposing forces such as the working class and
capitalist class, or Russia and Ukraine; it allows us to locate and
understand the most important conflicts and contending classes,
nations, or social groups.

But contradictions take different forms in different countries under
diverse circumstances. And sometimes there is a primary global
contradiction such as a world war. Underneath the primary or main
contradictions are secondary elements which appear in the complex
relationships between different types of oppressions and
exploitations. In the following short essay, we will try to articulate
the four primary (or main) contradictions that exist in countries
throughout the world, appearing within their own national context,
that play out differently in each country.

Taken together, they help us understand the historic conjuncture we
face, and determine the main tasks to advance the struggle for justice
and socialism. Recently left theorist Vijay Prashad suggested what he
called “Eight Contradictions of the Imperialist ‘Rules-Based Order
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(2023). Prashad identified many of the contradictions and flashpoints
that humanity faces. While we agree with the effort, in effect he
delineated eight major challenges but failed to identify which
contradictions truly serve an overarching role in today’s world. As
Vijay’s contribution was a short essay, our reply is also short, and
hopefully the first step in a necessary and fruitful discussion.

In the following we seek to identify four global contradictions that
are shaping the planetary conjuncture. Each contradiction contains or
can contain a subcategory that is worth noting, but that subcategory
is operating within the context of the specific contradiction.

* _Transnational capital transformed the relations of production
between labor and capital based on new forms of organized global
production and finance. Therefore, the contradiction between the
working class and capitalist class is expressed through the
organization of global capitalism_. These changes were engineered by a
transnational capitalist class and implemented through neoliberal
policies that included attacks on the social contract and unions,
austerity, privatization, efficiency drives, cuts in corporate taxes,
and massive offshore capital havens. As a result, poverty, insecurity
and precariatization grew, causing severe political tensions. The
consequence has been political instability and the need to regain
legitimacy for capitalist rule. The effects have been heightening
class contradictions with several expressions.
Different strategies have emerged between two competing ruling-class
power blocs, one being authoritarian neo-fascist capitalism, the other
a neo-Keynesian bloc with an economic strategy in the green
modernization of the means of production. We are not referring to
states, but rather ruling class power blocs seeking hegemony, and in
competition with each other within states. Such blocs consolidate
around a political ideology and economic model of accumulation. But
neither have consolidated as a global hegemonic bloc. Both have a
mixture of globalist and nationalist tendencies, and some combine
authoritarian and Keynesian policies. While the complexity of each
country needs careful attention, we believe a global pattern of
development has emerged.

There is growing radicalization within the working class and middle
class. One response is growing right-wing nationalism, racism,
misogyny, heterosexism, xenophobia, and sometimes far-right religious
extremism, expressed in the mobilization of reactionary populism. The
second is a left and progressive reform response expressed in the
growing militancy of social movements and electoral activism.

Lastly there are growing geopolitical contradictions set off by the
economic and social failures of global capitalism. The need for state
legitimization and an outlet for the crisis has generated nationalist
economic and political conflicts between states, as well as tensions
between transnational capitalists and state elites.

* _The contradiction between capitalism and nature, manifested
through multiple crises including global climate change,
deforestation, species extinction, massive toxic pollution,
extractivism, and rapidly approaching environment tipping
points._ This has spurred the development of a global environmental
movement with a large base among youth and indigenous peoples, as well
as a section of the ruling class dedicated to greening of the means of
production through market mechanisms. There are contradictions between
the social movements and the modernizing bourgeoise, as well as
between those forces and capitalist factions defending fossil fuel and
opposing progress on environmental policies and regulations.
* _The contradiction between patriarchal/male supremacist forces vs.
emancipatory women’s movements and the movements of gender
non-conforming people, manifested in a counter-revolution against both
women’s freedom and the victories of the LGBTQ+ movements._ Some of
the most reactionary expressions include attacks on reproductive
rights in the US, and oppressive policies pursued by the Taliban and
Iranian government. At the same time, we see the rise of resistance
within the US, the Iranian feminist movement, the Kurdish
revolutionary movement in Syria, as well as many others.
* _The contradiction between global imperialist powers and the
transnational capitalist class vs. the peoples of the historically
marginalized former colonial and semi-colonial world._ The
anti-colonial stage of struggle in which the former patriotic national
bourgeoisie fought to replace the colonial system, and allied with the
popular masses, has passed. The ruling bourgeoisie in the former
colonial and semi-colonial states are no longer a strategic ally in
the struggle against global capitalism. Instead, the ruling
bourgeoises in the Global South compete and collude with transnational
capitalism to have a greater share of capital and markets, and a
greater say in capitalist global governance institutions. The most
powerful and most wealthy are themselves part of the transnational
capitalist class. They exploit national resources and labor for their
own benefit and for the benefit of their transnational partners. Their
competitive contradiction is centered on becoming more ingrained in
global capitalism. Therefore, the national question remains, but is
distinct from that of the pre-1970 world.

Beyond internal capitalist rivalries, the contradiction between global
capitalists and the working classes and the popular masses of the
Global South manifests through battles to preserve and expand
democracy via opposition to tyranny, austerity, environmental
injustice, and the pro-active fight _for_ governing power within the
capitalist system. These movements work for structural change, but
they are not yet movements for full social transformation and for
working-class state power. These movements, while centered on the
popular masses, can include the petit-bourgeoise, sectors of the small
national bourgeoisie, and patriotic state elites. The Pink Tide
movements in Latin America are the best example.

_BILL FLETCHER, JR. is a longtime trade unionist, writer and speaker._

_JERRY HARRIS is National Secretary of the Global Studies Association
of North America._

_CONVERGENCE is a magazine for radical insights. We produce articles,
videos, and podcasts to sharpen our collective practice, lift up
stories about organizing, and engage in strategic debate — all with
the goal of winning multi-racial democracy and a radically democratic
economy._

_Stay up to date on the latest from Convergence Magazine. Subscribe
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