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"Living Marxism" is a British-based monthly magazine, which began in the 
late 1980s and now sells tens of thousands of copies.  It also has a web 
site, with on-line discussions, research materials on a wide range of 
topics, and also releases commentaries every few days.  The commentaries 
are basically synopses by LM writers on events as they happen; some of 
these are later turned into feature articles in the magazine.
Among LM's writers is Joan Phillips whose TV documentary "Journalists at 
War" was screened on Channel Four in Britain.  Phillips has reported 
widely from Yugoslavia and her documentary and LM articles have 
challenged western propaganda on the issue and shown how this propaganda 
serves to justify deepening military intervention in the region.

If you are interested in receiving the commentaries, details are 
included at the end of this item.

For information about subscriptions to the magazine itself, e-mail 
lm@junius.co.uk

Philip Ferguson





LIVING MARXISM COMMENTARY

Who's Afraid of Pat Buchanan?

America's Republican Party primaries are choosing their candidate
for president and the success of right-winger Pat Buchanan has
raised fears of a resurgent American isolationism. But it's the
voters that the US elite is frightened of, not Buchanan, writes
James Heartfield.

'Buchanan is a master of the politics of fear - of newness, of
turmoil, of the unexpected and the outsider' according to Michael
Elliott in one of the six articles in Newsweek dedicated to
vilifying the former broadcaster (4 March 1996).

Republican candidate opposes immigration, the United Nations and
homosexuality. Well, hold the front page! Ever since Pat Buchanan
wrote speeches for Nixon republican candidates have used the
politics of race, patriotism and bigotry to get elected - and
Buchanan kept on writing their speeches until he stood against
George Bush in 1992.

The case against Buchanan is that his are the politics of fear
and hatred. But the politics of fear and hatred used to be the
stock-in-trade of Republican politics, why are the party bosses
denouncing Buchanan now?

Pat Buchanan has not changed his politics in all those years. He
is just as reactionary now as he always was. But the ruling elite
in America has changed. They do not want rabble-rousers any more,
because they are frightened of the rabble.

Bob Dole has not been won to the cause of gay right any more than
Newsweek sympathises with the world's migrants. But they fear the
possibility of a right-wing populist movement in America much
more. What they are really frightened of is the judgement of the
mass of people who have been disappointed by the promises of
American success.

Those fears are exaggerated. Buchanan is no Huey Long-style
populist. He is a Washington insider, a journalist and speech-
writer, playing at being a man of the people. All the fears of
a right-wing populism, whether of the Michigan militia or
of California's anti-immigrant movement are overstated.
Buchanan's appeal is far from demonstrated by one win in New
Hampshire.

It is the bad conscience of the American elite that persuades
them that the mob is gathering at the gate. The pols and journos
know that the American middle class has been betrayed and they
fear the consequences.

More's the pity, no such reckoning, from the right or the left
is on the cards. But that will not stop the elite from stirring
up a storm about Buchanan. Attacking 'populism' is just the
preparatory ground for attacking the people. When the powers-
that-be have talked themselves into it, they will not hesitate
to take away the votes of the people they think of as a mob.

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On Tuesday 5 March 2300 GMT there will be a live chat, on the Living
Marxism Web site, about issues surrounding the US elections and the
Buchanan phenomenon.

To join in the chat go to:

                <http://www.junius.co.uk/interaction$chat>

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