In Episode 108 of the CounterVortex podcast, Bill Weinberg takes stock of the frightening East-West escalationĀ over Ukraine. Beyond the front-line on that country’s eastern borders, the forces of Russia and its allies and those of NATO are preparing for war from the Mediterranean to the Pacific. The “anti-war” (sic) left in the US is, with perfect predictability, lining up with Russia. Contrary to pseudo-left misconceptions, the post-Cold War “promises” made to Russia thatĀ NATO would not expand east were never formalized. However, the promises made to Ukraine that its sovereignty and territory would be protected were formalized. The prevailing double standard on the Western “left” sensationalizes a “Nazi” threat in Ukraine while ignoring the actual consolidation of fascistic dictatorships in Russia and Belarus. Putin’s propaganda, spread by the Kremlin media machine, is an exercise in fascist pseudo-anti-fascism. Meanwhile, UkrainianĀ socialists and democratic-left forces advance a “Neither East Nor West” position that demands solidarity against Russian aggression from the world anti-war forces. Ironically,Ā Lenin himself declared unequivocally for Ukrainian self-determinationāhere and here and here and here. Listen on SoundCloud or via Patreon.
Erratum: The authorĀ MEĀ Sarotte, whose work is discussed in this podcast, is misgendered. Her full name isĀ Mary Elise Sarotte. We regret the error.
Of course, contrary to what is said in the introduction, this was recorded on Jan. 27, 2022, not 2021.
Production by Chris Rywalt
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Map viaĀ Perry-CastaƱeda Library Map Collection
