Workers of the World -- UNITE!

: The Role of the Internet in Marxism

By Dominique Angela Juntado

With much credit to Cleaver's [2000] 'strategic' and 'militarized' approaches

towards reading Marxist collections (specifically Das Kapital), it was through him
that the approach and utilization of Marxist texts had been realized as double-
faceted. Information is power -- Cleaver's references to Marx as works which may
be considered as 'weapons' of the proletariat. It is a presentation of a detailed
analysis of the fundamental dynamics of the struggles between the capitalist and
the working classes. Through the reading of such works as a political document,
workers could study in depth the various ways in which the capitalist class sought
to dominate them as well as the methods they themselves used to struggle against
that domination [Cleaver: 2000].

With that approach, Cleaver had eventually come to an epiphany that a

characteristic (which, in a manner, somewhat fatal) of Marxist text is that it is for
everyone. There is no doubt entertained that this would include capitalists. The
rationale behind their reference to Marxian text is three-tiered: the first
considered as a means of self-clarification. There is the need to review their
current status and their objectives in continuing the struggle. The approach is
similar to jujitsu, where the strength points of the opponent is used against them.
Marxian text may serve as guides for the derivation of strategies. Though the
material was initially designed to spark proletarian spirit, there is the charting of
moves and beliefs, presented in a phenomenological discourse. Considering the
predicament the proletariat has in their hands, the weapon here is a double-
edged knife -- designed to further social change or to contain it.

Cleaver's study is in fact effective. From this example, it would make

academicians and scholars wonder what other means may be utilized to promote
practice and belief.

We are familiar with the internet as the cradle of an entirely new civilization and
culture. Words are affixed with new definitions, pictures with new meanings. It is
a vast, endless space hosting heartstrings and revelations, and for Marxists,
perhaps the hopeful glimmer of a chance at setting up a revolution.

Charles Swett [1995], in his preparation of a strategic assessment, defines the

internet as an enormous global network of computers, integrating thousands of
dissimilar computer networks worldwide through the use of technical standards
that enable all types of systems to interoperate.

He further maintains that the political process is moving onto the Internet. On an
international level, individuals, interest groups, and even nations are using the
internet to find each other, discuss the issues, and further their political goals.
The exchange of electronic mail is considered as the classic means of information
exchange. Other favorable alternatives include participation in offline discussions
which may include message boards. Online discussions are made possiblee
through the Internet Relay Chat function. Hypertext and multimedia documents
are also available within a click. Considering the reality that there is no central
authority in charge of managing the internet, there are virtually little limitations.

True Marxists find in offline participation both the combination of business and
leisure, taking seriously their posted threads.
Some tragedy behind its usage, however, is on how it does not necessarily make
you smarter -- it most of the times makes your stupidity accessible to others
[Lim: 2006].

References
Cleaver, Harry, Reading the Capital Politically, AK Press, 2000.
Swett, Charles, Strategic Assessment: The Internet (17 July 1995)
http://www.fas.org/cp/swett.html accessed 26 February 2008, 1150 HRS.

Lim, Eleazar, The Internet, 2006