NATIONAL 5 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Reviving Communism

A four-day conference on socialism discusses ways to preserve Marxism in the midst of a headlong global rush to the market

By A CORRESPONDENT

A four-day conference on socialism last week expressed satisfaction over the way Marxism has managed to preserve itself in the midst of the liberal democratic onslaught.

The International Conference on Socialism was inaugurated a day after the future of the 23-year rule of the Communists Party of India-Marxist in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal came under question following the resignation of long-time chief minister Jyoti Basu.

That development gave the participants an opportunity to discuss the wider implications of the departure of the octogenarian Basu, who was the embodiment of West Bengal's communism.

Attended by communist leaders from Nepal, China, India, Denmark, North Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines, the conference discussed key issues affecting Marxism today.

"Despite the temporary setbacks in the struggle for socialism, the dawn of 21st century is witnessing successful militant struggles in various parts of the world," said Pradeep Nepal, CPN-UML leader and convener of the conference.

Along with the unprecedented advances in science and technology, capitalism is now facing a chain of crisis, he said. "Socialism is thus bestowed with newer challenges and opportunities."

Inaugurated by CPN-UML general secretary and main opposition leader in parliament, Madhav Kumar Nepal, the conference discussed several papers on different aspects of socialism and the nature of the challenges it is facing today.

Although the number of countries under communist rule has dwindled, participants still saw this as an era of socialism and Marxism.

"We are proud to recall the last century which witnessed spectacular advances in human civilization, thanks to the glorious achievements of socialism under the banner of Marxism inspired by the October Revolution that triggered waves of revolution all over the world," said Nepal.

The former Soviet Union, where Marxism was first implemented, is now in the capitalist fold. Following the demise of communism in the eastern bloc, only Cuba, the People Republic of China, North Korea and Vietnam are ruled by communist governments.

Communists in Nepal and some Indian states have made tremendous gains in the last decade. In Nepal, the CPN-UML formed a minority government and later joined a coalition administration.

The rise of liberal democracy in the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 has threatened the existence of communist parties in many parts of the world.

In some countries, communist leaders had to transform themselves into social democrats before keeping or regaining power.

Over the last five decades, the policies of some communist leaders remain etched as horrors in people's minds. But the rapid pace of globalization, which has left the vulnerable sections of the world's popular weaker, has energized some communists to plot a comeback of sorts. "The socialists around the world are intensifying their resistance against common threats from imperialist globalization and continue to lead and support national liberation movements and movement for democracy through the world.

The four-day conference called for solidarity among the world's communist parties, many of whom are facing a challenge just to survive.

"We have agreed to respect different forms of struggle to achieve socialism and encourage regular dialogue to enhance mutual understanding," said Nepal.

Papers were presented by Madhav Kumar Nepal and Jhal Nath Khanal from Nepal, Li Jong Ryul of Korea, Tian Chua of Malaysia, Emilio de Villa of Philippines, Duc Long of Vietnam, and Prof. D. Prempati from India. Sarba Raj Khadka, Gopal Krishna Siwakoti, Krishna Prasad Upadhyaya and Hari Phunyal of Nepal participated as commentators.

After the collapse of communism in the Soviet Union, the international communist movement lost its prime source of financial and moral support.

By gaining ground since the collapse of communism elsewhere, the CPN-UML and other Nepalese communist organizations may have a lesson or two on strategy for their comrades abroad.