The Transnational Capitalist Class and Working Class Struggle

THE TRANSNATIONAL CAPITALIST CLASS AND WORKING CLASS STRUGGLE A number of today's Marxist theorists, among them William I. Robinson, have argued that we are now into a new epoch in the development of capitalism, the rapidly emerging transnational capitalist era. With the spread of neoliberal globalization worldwide, production chains are now more and more global, as is direct investment and the circulation of capital. Standing at the top of the emerging global system is an increasingly powerful and mobil transnational capitalist class which meets and develops as a community and as a class for itself within transnational corporations and transnational forums like the Trilateral Commission and the World Economic Forum. The apparent power of the transnational capitalist class should not blind us to the historic mission of the working class, now a global working class three billion strong. As Lenin observed, imperialism is the eve of proletarian revolution. As imperialism has changed, the forms of working class struggle must change. It is imperative that we understand the new forms of struggle and new structures of resistance that are emerging throughout the oppressed world, from streets of Seattle and the Naxalites in the forests of India to the World Social Forum. We have asked two ICSS members, Larry Shoup and Gene Ruyle, to present their divergent views on these issues as a way of stimulating further discussion and exploration. Sunday Oct 27, 2013 • 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Niebyl Proctor Marxist Library 6501 Telegraph Avenue in Oakland (between Alcatraz and 66th) Seating is limited, so plan to come early. We start promptly. FREE - but hat will be passed for donations to NPML Sunday Morning at the Marxist Library A weekly discussion series inspired by our respect for the work of Karl Marx and our belief that his work will remain as important for the class struggles of the future as they have been for the past. For descriptions and our full schedule, go to www.csulb.edu/~eruyle/icss/html Info: Gene Ruyle at 510-428-1578 or cuyleruyle@mac.com To subscribe to our weekly announcements, email cuyleruyle@mac.com