The State of the Vietnamese "Democracy" Movement
Recently, Vietnamese activist Will Nguyen appeared on a digital town hall with the organization Now! to discuss Vietnam and it’s democracy movement. One of our members and a sympathizer had the opportunity to watch the town hall on Zoom. That experience and an analysis of it has been compiled into this article.
Before we begin, let us address the organization that held this meeting. Now!, founded in 2019, describes itself as “the global movement pushing for humanity to work as One, to solve the biggest challenges of our time”. Vague wording, to say the least, however, we can still draw some conclusions from it. Such as a doubtless class collaborationism with their appeal for a united humanity.
Looking at the actual content of the town hall and Now!’s facebook page, it is clear that they’re a very liberal organization. Joe Biden apologia, along with calls for a “coalition of democracies” to form and help defend (bourgeois) democracy and it’s “freedom fighters” doesn’t make this a very inspiring organization. Andrea Venzon, one of the speakers at the event, said specifically:
“We also think [...] as an organization that democratic countries should do more. For example we’re advocating a lot for the creation of an international coalition of democracies that can, you know, sanction regimes that crack down on freedom fighters.”
A nice little fairy tale, but the “coalition” they speak of would, in reality, function as an arm of American Imperialism. Teaming up all the Good Guy democracies against the Bad Guy dictatorships under the pretense of political liberation, when in reality the bourgeoisie is expanding its imperialist ambitions. It wouldn’t be a historical first. And in fact it’s quite redundant, as the opinions and actions against such regimes, by those states in the American sphere of influence, is quite homogenous. And I’m sure it isn’t coincidental that Now! lacks a position on pacifism.
So, the speaker Will Nguyen has teamed up with a miniature version of the American Democratic Party. Is there still hope for a decent town hall? No. Unfortunately, his live stream is a reflection of his undoubtful liberalism. In fact, the only strong points he makes throughout the entire live stream is that Stalinism (“Marxism”-“Leninism”) is a bankrupt system, and that Vietnam is a bona-fide police state. But the way he presents these points robs them of their legitimacy. Let us examine further.
Mr. Nguyen is more than correct when he denounces Stalinism as bankrupt. In fact we hold the same position. However, the entire point is thrown away when he continuously conflates Stalinism with Communism. Stalinism was the gravedigger of the Communist revolution, and remains a capitalist opposition to the real movement. The continued persistence of theories such as “Socialism in One Country”, the conflation of Socialism with the proletarian dictatorship, “Socialist Commodity Production”, electoralism etc is proof of this. Perhaps Mr. Nguyen should examine this bankrupt system a tad more carefully.
On the other point: It is true that the “Socialist” Republic of Vietnam is a police state controlled by the “Communist” Party. One which is quick to repress any opposition that threatens the Party’s grip on society. This is a completely reasonable analysis on Mr. Nguyen’s part. With this in mind he must support revolution right? Apparently not! In fact he does not ever speak of revolutionary action against the C.P.V.. Instead he laments regime change and “overthrowing the state”. He repeatedly compares the two to “holding a grudge” against the government, saying:
“We have been so adversarial with the Vietnamese government, and they dig in their heels when they feel under attack. [...] Because that adversarial relationship has been kept up for so long you have such a huge waste of money and mental energy that the ‘Communist’ government could’ve been devoting elsewhere.” (our quotations)
One would think, then, that Mr. Nguyen has a much more viable alternative kept in his back pocket. But, to no one’s surprise, he does not. What he offers instead is peaceful “reconciliation” with the government. A sort of utopian pacifism. How preposterous. The government is not going to stand by if you are more peaceful. In fact such an attitude will only make it easier for your movement to be swept aside like dust. The government is digging in their heels? Good! It means they are prepared for the worst, and it should be the worst that we give them. And how can he say this while also saying that the C.P.V. does not allow a real opposition? Does he intend for the reconciliatory movement to simply not be neutralized by the C.P.V.?
To defend his point Mr. Nguyen recalls how the Eastern Bloc fell through “reconciliation” with the “Communist” parties there. I think we should offer a small history lesson to combat this point. The Eastern Bloc did not fall because the C.P.s there “reconciled” with liberals. There was massive action against them. The strike wave in Poland, the Hungarian resistance[1], and the anti-government protests in the G.D.R. which set up workers councils [2] were all crucial movements which eroded the power of the states there. There was no such reconciliation!
Here there is a disorientation within the “democracy” movement in Vietnam. There is an acknowledgment of Vietnam’s police state characteristics but there is an abandonment of real revolutionary tactics. Not only that but there is little knowledge within the movement of what democracy constitutes, something which even Mr. Nguyen admits. The best the movement does is try to grope towards liberal bourgeois democracy, which is not really democratic. Liberal bourgeois democracy would only recreate the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie which is already in Vietnam, assuming it could even get off the group with pacifist tactics like “reconciliation”.
What the movement needs is three-fold: Firstly is advocacy for proletarian democracy, which really manifests the political power of the proletariat through workers councils. Secondly is the advocacy for revolutionary tactics. The C.P.V. will not give up it’s power without a fight, no faction of the bourgeoisie will, so we shall give them one. Thirdly is the abandonment of class collaborationism. Humanity cannot act as “One”. It can only be the proletariat acting united as a class. Then, and only then, will we start to see a real formidable movement against the capitalist C.P.V., it’s running dogs, and the entire international bourgeoisie. The international proletarian revolution is inevitable, let it be armed with the correct theories and tactics to strike at the bourgeoisie.
Link to the Town Hall
https://www.facebook.com/NOW4Humanity/videos/732910560914013/
[1] Hungary 1956: A Workers’ Uprising Against the Party Dictatorship (leftcom.org)
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