The National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) International Theoretical Conference on Fascism and Imperialism in the 21st Century in the Neocolonies was succesfully held on May 22-23 in Kathmandu Nepal. The activity is the 6th from the series of theoretical conferences held in the past years.
The two-day conference deepened theoretical and historical understanding of fascism as a class phenomenon rooted in the contradictions of imperialism. The conference also discussed the importance of militant mass movements in providing the countercurrent against fascism. In addition, the conference identified principles and strategies that can guide such movements and democratic sectors of society in the struggle to effectively confront and defeat fascism. The conference drew lessons from the contributions of Lenin, Stalin, Dimitrov, and Mao, including the lessons and knowledge gathered from the Fifth NDFP International Theoretical Conference, with the assembly examining how fascism has historically developed and adapted in the 21st century, particularly in the neocolonial peripheries.
The sharing of theoretical papers and discussion marked the conference, elaborating on the current-day manifestations of fascism as they arise from specific historical conditions in the neocolonies. The conditions for the rise of fascism, the intense economic crises experienced by the working people in both the imperialists heartlands and in the neocolonial periphery, were discussed.
Particularly, the material basis for fascism was fleshed out during the sharing and discussion. Imperialism, in its rapidly declining state, paves the way for fascism in neocolonies. The financial oligarchs continue their drive to expand and carve their spheres of influence to ensure the steady flow of resources, unhampered supply chains, and markets to export their capital. This is being met with resistance from peoples movements and armed struggle. To suppress the resistance, fascisation or the complete creation of a fascist state with compradors and landlords, at the beck and call of imperialists, develops.
Fascist puppet regimes naturally arise to further the objectives of sustaining imperialism. Through counter-insurgency (COIN) programs developed by neocolonial states and supported by their masters, activists, progressive groups and individuals, and liberation armies are targeted. They face illegal arrests, torture, psychological war, and killings. This is the case with the brutal logic and actions done by the Zionist entity against the Palestinian people and resistance.
At this historical and political juncture, it becomes strictly necessary to build the popular united front of movements, oppressed peoples, intellectuals, and other positive forces in society. It is critical for the proletarian and workers’ parties, revolutionary organizations, national liberation movements, peoples’ movements, women, youth, and all oppressed peoples to lead, mobilize, and educate the masses to fight against wars of aggression, and the economic policies of finance capital intensifying the exploitation, oppression and poverty of the working people. Mass mobilizations must be conducted against efforts of the ruling compradors and landlords to further erase the remaining democratic rights of the people. At the same time, narrowmindedness and sectarianism must be avoided to be able to unite all people under the banner
of pressing issues experienced by many today.
Two days of sharing and intense discussion marked the International Theoretical Conference on Fascism and Imperialism in the 21st Century in the Neocolonies, bringing together close to 200 participants, from 5 continents, from 17 countries, composed of proletarian and workers parties, pre-party formations, revolutionary organizations, national liberation movements and progressive organizations. The conference gave spotlight to 17 theoretical papers focused on the current iteration of fascism in the 21st century, with emphasis on its source and modalities in the neocolonies.
The event is part of the NDFP International Theoretical Conference on Fascism in the 21st Century, exploring the following themes: 1.) Fascism in the imperialist heartlands and industrialized capitalist countries; and 2.) Fascism in the neocolonies. The Fifth NDFP International Theoretical Conference focused on the first theme, the Sixth NDFP International Theoretical Conference gave attention to the second theme: 21st century Fascism in the neocolonies.
The conference was capped with a synthesis of the proceedings, a tribute to the martyrs of peoples’ war and revolutions in the neocolonies. The conference ended in a common voice, red salutes, honoring all the revolutionaries and the singing of The Internationale.
