On the political economy of contemporary imperialism: The concept of the “imperialist pyramid” and its critics

By Thanasis Spanidis

Summary in short theses: 

1. In the Programmatic Theses of Kommunistische Organisation (KO) we find (in broad outline) a clear orientation for the analysis of imperialism. The theoretical conception developed therein has now been rejected in a number of contributions to the discussion (Klara Bina, Alexander Kiknadze, to a lesser extent Paul Oswald). 

2. The assertion that the imperialist world system is characterized by a “unipolar world order” led by the USA cannot be confirmed by the available data. Both the economic and military balance of power at the top of the imperialist world order refute the picture of singular U.S. domination. 

KKE condemns reinforcement of NATO's presence in Kosovo, calls for the withdrawal of Greek forces

Statement of the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) on the developments in Kosovo:

Unacceptable reinforcement of NATO’s presence - Greek forces must withdraw immediately

Nowadays, there is a sharpening conflict of imperialist interests in various regions of the world, including the Balkans, where the situation formed by Euro-Atlantic intervention, NATO bombings and the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s remains a festering wound.

KKE: On the so-called World Anti-Imperialist Platform and its damaging and disorienting position

Article by the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE

The outbreak of the imperialist war in Ukraine has sharpened the contradictions within the international communist movement around serious ideological-political issues that have been plaguing it for years and express the opportunist influence in its ranks. Naturally, the focus was on the stance towards the imperialist character of the war that is being waged between the USA-NATO-EU and capitalist Russia on the territory of Ukraine, the stance towards the bourgeoisie and its political representatives such as social democracy, the problematic analyses of the imperialist system and the position of China and Russia, and other issues, more deeply connected with the question of the erroneous strategy of stages towards socialism, of support for and participation in bourgeois governments.

Joint Statement of Communist and Workers' Parties on the one year since the imperialist war in Ukraine

JOINT STATEMENT OF THE COMMUNIST AND WORKERS’ PARTIES ON THE ONE YEAR SINCE THE IMPERIALIST WAR IN UKRAINE

We must strengthen the struggle against the monopolies and the bourgeois classes, for the overthrow of capitalism, for the strengthening of the class struggle against the imperialist war, for socialism!

One year has passed since the start of the imperialist conflict in Ukraine, which is one of the consequences of the tragic situation that has developed for the peoples after the overthrow of socialism and the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

KKE: On the war in Ukraine and China’s “proposals for peace”

On the war in Ukraine and China’s “proposals for peace”" 

Their peace is being built upon the ashes and in the fire of the imperialist war

“Those at the top say:
Peace and war
Are of different substance.
But their peace and their war
Are like wind and storm.
War grows from their peace
Like son from his mother.
He bears
Her frightful features.”

— B. Brecht, From A German War Primer

KKE condemns US government's decision to keep Cuba on the list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism"

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) condemns the decision of the Biden administration to keep Cuba on the list of State Sponsors of Terrorism, as announced on 1 March.

This is a provocative decision that reinforces the tools used by the imperialists to blackmail Cuba economically and politically and to tighten the blockade aiming at undermining the achievements of the Cuban people and promoting their counter-revolutionary plans.

Note on the "World Anti-Imperialist Platform" Meeting in Caracas

In a statement about the meeting of the so-called "World Anti-Imperialist Platform" in Caracas, Venezuela, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Mexico (PCM) notes:

"On March 3, the third meeting of the "World Anti-Imperialist Platform" begins, which amalgamates confused forces unknown until recently, together with strange to the communist movement political groups. Some exist only in the computers and minds of their spokespersons, such as the non-existent "Collective of Struggle for the Revolutionary Unification of Humanity" or the "Platform for Independence" of Greece. 

Italy: Workers, students rally against the imperialist war and the transportation of weapons to Ukraine

Under the slogan “Put down the weapons, raise the wages”, thousands of dockworkers and students protested last week in Genoa and other cities in Italy against the imperialist war and the transportation of weapons to Ukraine.

A strike was declared and organized by USB (Unione Sindacale di Base) trade union, while multiple protests were also held in other cities, including Rome, Milan, Turin and Bologna. 

One year since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine: The KKE firmly at the forefront of the struggle against the imperialist war

One year since the outbreak of the imperialist war in Ukraine: blood and tears for the peoples - profits for capital

The KKE firmly at the forefront of the struggle against the imperialist war

Twelve days before V. Putin announced the “Special Military Operation”, as he called the Russian military invasion of the Ukrainian territories, Rizospastis commented the statements of the US official Kurt Volker, who claimed that “Russia may annex one-third of Ukraine”, assessing that Ukraine could lose all access to the Sea of Azov and that a land passage could be formed connecting the Russian Federation with Crimea.

D. Koutsoumbas: Statement on the one year since the beginning of NATO-Russia war in Ukraine

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the beginning of the war between NATO and Russia in Ukraine, the General Secretary of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Dimitris Koutsoumbas, made the following statement (here in Greek):

“After a year of war in Ukraine and the danger of a generalization of the war is more than existing, especially when the conflict between USA and China for the primacy in the imperialist system is clearly projected in the “big picture”. 

"Blinken Go Home": Greek communists demonstrated against US-NATO in Athens and Thessaloniki

With slogans like “NATO-US bases out of Greece” and “No participation in imperialist interventions”, thousands of young men and women, members and friends of the Communist Youth of Greece (KNE), protested in Athens against the visit of the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Greece.

Marching outside the US Embassy, the protesters sent a powerful message that the US “minister of war” is not welcome in Greece and demanded the immediate closure of all US-NATO military bases in the country, 902 portal reported.

KKE MEPs: On the “creation of a special tribunal for Russia” - The peoples must judge and condemn the imperialist war

MEPs OF THE KKE 

On the “creation of a special tribunal for Russia” - The peoples must judge and condemn the imperialist war

A resolution on the “creation of a special tribunal for Russia” was adopted on 19/1/23 by the People’s Party, the Social Democrats, the Liberals, the Greens and far-right groups in the European Parliament. The 2 KKE MEPs voted against it.

In a statement on the resolution, the MEPs of the KKE stress the following:

Algerian Party for Democracy and Socialism (PADS): "The multipolar world is only a deadly illusion"

“As communists, we consider that it is a mistake to side with Russian imperialism in the name of the advent of a “multipolar world”. This “multipolar world” is only a deadly illusion”, points out the Algerian Party for Democracy and Socialism (Parti Algérien pour la Démocratie et le Socialisme - PADS) in its contribution at the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties (IMCWP) which was held in Havana on 27-29 October 2022. 

KKE condemns blockade on the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh

In a statement, the International Relations Section of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) condemns the blockade imposed on the Armenian population at Nagorno-Karabakh by Azerbaijan. More specifically, the statement (here in Greek) reads:

"The people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) are once again experiencing great difficulties, following the complete blockade (ground and air) imposed by Azerbaijan, with the tolerance of the Russian "peacekeeping" forces. The Armenians of the region, deprived of food, medicine and fuel supplies in the particularly difficult winter conditions, are facing serious problems of survival.

KKE: Every party is assessed by its participation in the class struggle

Every party is assessed by its participation in the class struggle

Regarding the (new) statement of the leadership of the RCWP, which repeats the well-known dead-end positions and attacks against our party, the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE notes the following:

First, SolidNet is an important achievement of the Communist and Workers’ Parties and the observance of the rules governing it requires responsibility, which, unfortunately, the leadership of the RCWP fails to demonstrate. In its statements, it continues its unacceptable characterizations, turns against specific comrades, uses inaccuracies, and distorts the positions of the KKE and other parties.

MEPs of the KKE reject EU Parliament resolution that labels Russia a “state sponsor of terrorism”

Cunning Euroatlantic supporters

Supporting the further escalation of the imperialist conflict in Ukraine,  on 23 November 2022 the European Parliament adopted a resolution characterizing Russia as a “state sponsor of terrorism”. Putting forward the well-known “anti-terrorist” pretexts that have been utilized for imperialist interventions around the globe, the European Parliament, in continuation of previous resolutions-warmongering frenzy, attempts to “whitewash” the role of the Euroatlantic bloc in the imperialist conflict in Ukraine and Eastern Europe. It paves the way for further involvement of the EU in the war as well as for new sanctions that add fuel to the fire. 

KKE: On the ideological–political confrontation at the 22nd IMCWP and the “trick” about the “anti-Russian” and “pro-Russian” sentiment

On the ideological–political confrontation at the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties and the “trick” about the “anti-Russian” and “pro-Russian” sentiment

The discussion about the results of the International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP) held in Havana continues.

Turkish communists condemn Erdogan's attack in Syria and north Iraq

In a statement concerning the air strikes of the Turkish Armed Forces on Kurdish settlements in Syria and Iraq, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) stresses out:

"Following the bombing attack on Istanbul’s Istiklal Street last week, the Turkish Armed Forces has been conducting air strikes on Kurdish settlements in Syria and Iraq since last night. Alleging that this operation is carried out on the pretext of “defense”, the AKP government is once again concealing the truth.

KKE denounces Turkey's air strikes in Syria, north Iraq

The new Turkish military offensive in Syria and northern Iraq consists a demonstration of power under the compliance of USA, EU and Russia, reads a statement issued by the Press Office of the CC of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE).

More specifically, the statement reads (here in Greek):

"The KKE denounces Turkey's new unacceptable air strike on the Kurdish areas of Syria and Northern Iraq, which is added to the military operations of the previous period and the maintenance of the Turkish occupation of Syrian lands and military forces on Iraq's territory. 

KKE responds to the statement issued by the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RCWP)

In response to a statement issued by the RCWP after the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties that was held in Havana, the International Relations Section of the CC of the KKE notes the following:

“We have read, to our sorrow, the statement issued by the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RCWP) following the 22nd International Meeting of Communist and Workers’ Parties (IMCWP) in Havana. We believe that it is engaging in another attack, in a non-comradely or at least a critical spirit, against the KKE, the Communist Party of Mexico, the Communist Party of the Workers of Spain, and the Communist Party of Turkey that took the lead in issuing the Joint Statement of 43 Communist and Workers’ Parties and 30 Communist Youth Organizations. The Joint Statement condemned the imperialist war in Ukraine based on class, communist criteria as a war between the USA-NATO-EU and capitalist Russia.