Thoughts on "Settlers" by Sakai?
Thoughts on "Settlers" by Sakai?
Hey all,
I'm currently developing a Marxist-Leninist analysis of settler colonialism, especially in light of the situation in Palestine, and am going to read Settlers: The Mythology of the White Proletariat by J. Sakai for the first time. Before I do I was just curious what other comrades think of the book and its analysis? It seems a pretty controversial text among many online Marxist groups, to whatever extent that matters, but as an Indigenous communist I feel having a clear and principled stance on the settler question is important for all serious communists. I'm not sure if I'll agree with Sakai specifically, but since I generally agree with the opinions of y'all, I was curious as to your thoughts on the book.
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Sakai's is wrong, I don't even think you all agree with what he's saying.
I think you like FUKNSLAMMER posts as much as I do.
But do you really think there is no revolutionary potential to the white working class? Maybe this makes sense to people who pigeon hole themselves into media criticism and engagement with malevolvent right wingers.
But the majority of the white working class are not part of the labor aristocracy that is into MAGA shit. I don't think you would agree with the statement that the white working class has no revolutionary potential.
Take a look at where all the JROTC kids come from
Saying something’s a decent book doesn’t mean one agrees with everything. Most of the people in here include caveats in their support for the book. In my opinion it’s mostly factually and emotionally accurate for the time. But things have changed since then, neoliberalism is proletarianizing white people to a large extent. The text is also sadly lacking dialectics. We do not have no hope in the white working class. We know there is some hope that they will fight for the right side in wars of national liberation. However, settlers must know the revolution is not theirs. We will no doubt benefit (surviving climate change, transitioning to a healthier sustainable lifestyle, avoiding pollution, less queerphobia, workers democracy, and so on), the only caveat being it’s not their nation and they don’t have the possibility to own land (not that most of us have any land anyway). We will fight for it alongside the oppressed nations, and others who were previously neutral will join.
In my opinion it’s mostly factually and emotionally accurate for the time
With all due respect this means absolutely nothing and this is not the foundation for a serious conversation.
You should probably look at what the book has wrought before you start talking about how great its vibes are. You familiar with a Mister Gazi Kodo?
All I’m saying is it has some decent history and it’s pessimism made sense for the time. Writing a book and getting some dogmatic and uncritical followers is different from starting a cult. That’s like blaming mao’s writing for polpot and Gonzalo.
You would really enjoy Samir Amin's perspective on Maoism vs Sovietism I think
If I have any weird middle of the night rancor in my posts (it never feels like it at the time) just know I'm tired of hearing the same pseudoleftists like Sakai and Zizek get play over dependency theorists and other interesting shit like that
Link it? Sakai is far better than Zizek. Sure he’s a little overrated here, but he’s worth reading as long as you’re critical and reading more recent stuff with better specific analysis too. I agree there are a lot of other authors like Amine that deserve more attention.
Simply read through his entire bibliography
Didn’t he write a lot of stuff? Surely you can give me a couple of suggestions or a place to start.
Galeano's open veins
Eurocentrism & russia and the long transition from capitalism to socialism are highly relevant bangers from samir amin. Also the future of maoism though a bit old
Yea I'll help with that I'm just finishing up my parapolitics annotated bibliography which is another blindspot for many
*Sakai's conclusion is wrong