Imperialism Series Part 3: The National Question: An Introduction to Leftist Dialogue on Self-Determination, Intervention, and Nationalism

The third module of our Socialist Night School study series on imperialism focuses on how socialists have approached (and presently approach) the relationship between nationalism, self-determination, and socialist liberation. This is a pressing issue for both subjugated nations and working-class people seeking to fight capitalist imperialism from within the imperial core.

So what is the relationship between socialism and nationalism? How does this relationship differ depending on where one resides within a system of imperial domination? What are key lessons we can draw from historical and present-day experiences and struggles of Pan-Africanism and Pan-Indigenous movements in Latin America? What does it mean to show meaningful solidarity across national borders? These are some of the questions we will work through this module.

Recommended Reading

To prepare for this session, we ask attendees to read through Module 3 (pp. 54-77) of the DSA-LA Imperialism Reader, which includes:

• Immanuel Wallerstein, “The Politics of Accumulation: Struggle for Benefits” (pp. 55-57)
• Walter Rodney, “Aspects of the International Class Struggle in Africa, the Caribbean and America” (pp. 58-63)
• Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, “Indigenous Peoples and the Left in Latin America” (pp. 64-69)
• Ramón Grosfoguel, “Latinos and the Decolonization of the US Empire” (70-77)

If you would like to dive deeper, we recommend turning to the full-length texts by the various authors:

• Immanuel Wallerstein, Historical Capitalism
• Walter Rodney, full-length version of “Aspects of the International Class Struggle in Africa, the Caribbean and America”
• Ramón Grosfoguel, Nelson Maldonado-Torres, and José David Saldívar, “Latin@s and the ‘Euro-American Menace’” (introduction to Latin@s in the World-System)

Were you unable to attend the first two sessions? No problem! You can review the content from Module 1: Is Imperialism the Highest Stage of Capitalism? and Module 2: America’s Ascent as an Imperial Power.

Interested in attending our Socialist Night School sessions? Check our calendar for upcoming session dates.