Socialism’s Self-Criticism And Real Democracy – OpEd

Democracy is incompatible with class-divided economic systems. Masters rule in slavery, lords in feudalism, and employers in capitalism. Whatever forms of government (including representative-electoral) coexist with class-divided economic systems, the hard reality is that one class rules the other. The revolutionaries who overthrew other systems to establish capitalism sometimes meant and intended to install a real democracy, but that did not happen. Real democracy—one person, one vote, full participation, and majority rule—would have enabled larger employee classes to rule smaller capitalist classes. Instead, capitalist employers used their economic positions (hiring/firing employees, selling outputs, receiving/distributing profits) to preclude real democracy. What democracy did survive was merely formal. In place of real democracy, capitalists used their wealth and power to secure capitalist class rule. They did that first and foremost inside capitalist enterprises where employers functioned as autocrats unaccountable to the mass of their employees. From that base, employers as a class purchased or otherwise dominated politics via electoral or other systems.

Tension Mounts On Southern Front As Lebanon’s Hezbollah Launches ‘Resistance Project’

Hostilities escalated on Monday on the southern front of Lebanon between Hezbollah and the Israeli army.

A preliminary report said that a Syrian national was injured as a result of Israeli shelling targeting the Al-Wazzani border village. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli army spokesperson, said that “three soldiers were slightly injured” after Hezbollah had targeted the Israeli military outpost of Shtula.

National security adviser indicates war against Hezbollah likely once Hamas is defeated

Hanegbi says threat of Lebanese terror group attempting Oct. 7-style massacre of civilians cannot be tolerated; says killing Sinwar in Gaza may expedite war’s end, hostages’ return

National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi indicated on Saturday night that once Hamas is defeated in Gaza, Israel may have to go to war against Hezbollah across the northern border in Lebanon.

The Georgian Intelligence Service’s Role In Contemporary Russia-Georgia Relations

Abstract: The world has never been safe for small and vulnerable countries. Their perilous position has been largely determined by weak economic, political and military capabilities, which deprive them of the ability to ensure their national security effectively. The existing literature concerning national security of small and vulnerable countries reveals that overemphasis is placed upon diplomacy as the major instrument of advancing the national interests of such states while overlooking the importance of their supportive institutions, such as intelligence services. The literature regarding the role of intelligence services in national security demonstrates that the secretive nature of intelligence activities and their association with “dirty tricks” of statecraft demonises intelligence services, ultimately undermining their role in national security. Moreover, discrediting the intelligence services is fueled by frequently blaming the intelligence community for strategic failure, even when the inadequate political decision-making process causes it. Inquiring into the Georgian national security environment, which exemplifies well the difficulties faced by small and vulnerable countries, allows us to review and challenge the existing trends in academia regarding the interplay between intelligence and national security.

SAHEL – La force conjointe du G5 Sahel, une illusion franco-africaine?

La nouvelle force conjointe du G5 Sahel, dont l’opérationnalisation a été actée début juillet 2017, a suscité beaucoup d’espoir depuis sa création, dans la région du Sahel et au-delà. Mais elle semble en butte à nombre de difficultés qui pourraient nuire à son efficacité dans une région confrontée au terrorisme, à la criminalité organisée et à l’aggravation des conflits locaux sur fond de compétition autour des ressources naturelles et de rivalités pour la conquête du pouvoir politique.

ISLAM – Un projet politique né dans la violence…

« Le but de tous les vrais Musulmans, c’est le Califat ! »

Cette simple phrase, relevée au hasard sur les réseaux sociaux, résumerait-elle –fût-ce d’une manière assez abrupte- le message délivré au Prophète Mohamed, dans sa dimension politique en tout cas ?

C’est ce que laisse penser la lecture, qu’elle soit historique ou religieuse, du seul document fondateur de l’Islam, du seul référent considéré comme authentique par les « Croyants », les Musulmans, la seule source où est précisée la « volonté de Dieu » : le Coran.

Libya – political, economic and tribal complexity

When looking at the current situation in Libya, one has to admit it is hardly understandable: Two governments, hundreds of tribes and autonomous armed groups, and the growing presence of competing jihadists groups amongst which the local Islamic State. This article attempts to give an overview of today’s situation in Libya, and to highlight a few important factors, such as the control of the economic resources.

The Future of South Yemen: Will Conflicting Interests Collide?

For the last year, the media has been abuzz with rumors of Saudi Arabia’s impending withdrawal from Yemen. Many analysts have ascribed the normalization deal with Iran to the Saudi exist strategy from the conflict, which has cost the Kingdom tens of billions of dollars in humanitarian aid alone, let alone military and other expenses towards the war effort and assorted administrative tasks. Attempted negotiations with Houthis have thus far not worked out after the Houthis demanded extraordinary concessions, in a new de facto rejection of the Saudi overtures. That left the fate of the Saudi-led Arab Coalition forces in limbo – while further complicating the situation inside the conflict-fraught country and raising questions about the future of South Yemen. In the latest diplomatic salvo, pointing to the Kingdom’s search for an exit strategy, Riyadh is making moves to strengthen its positions in Aden and Hadramut, by forming administrative councils (de-facto militias), aimed at promoting unity. Meanwhile, the Southern Transitional Council (STC) leadership, particularly popular in parts of the South, is more determined than ever to forge a pathway to independence. So where does that leave us?